chance was born in perth, western australia, the son of hazel isobel (née prowse) and geoffrey maurice chance. his uncle, edgar prowse, was a country party senator. chance was raised on his father's property at doodlakine, and then boarded at wesley college, perth. he returned to doodlakine to engage in sharefarming, and later farmed on his own land, initially at doodlakine and later at carrabin. chance served on the executive of the western australian farmers federation, including as treasurer, and was a state delegate to the national farmers federation. he was also a board member of the water authority of western australia from 1985 to 1992, and a director of the avon football association.