Arno Herpe emigrated to Australia in 1939 and graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Engineering. He served the last two years of the second world war in Papua New Guinea where 'he gained an immense respect for the indigenous population of the country who on occasion saved his life.' Arno bequeathed a sum to the university to be applied for the assistance and encouragement of students 'who are descendant from indigenous natives of the South Pacific area, including Australia and New Zealand. Preference is to be given to students enrolled in Melbounre School of Engineering.'