Donald Stuart Kidd was born on May 13, 1920, the third child and second son of Philip Kidd, engineer and his wife Alice, nee Trueman. He was educated at Lefton, NSW, North Sydney Boys' School and Sydney University where he studied medicine. After qualifying MB BS in 1941 he joined the RAAF and served for four years in the medical branch, being demobilized as a Flight Lieutenant. His career was influenced by Alistair McEachern, Chairman of the Court of Examiners and Senior Vice-President of the RACS. He took his FRACS in 1952 and then came to England to work for a year for his FRCS, which he took in 1953. On returning to Australia he worked at Sydney Hospital and was then appointed to the staff of the Royal Adelaide Hospital as honorary and visiting surgeon, a position which he held for thirty years. He was Chairman of the Board of the Wakeman Memorial Hospital until his death. Outside his surgical work he devoted himself to public service as a Rotarian and secretary to the Federal Education Committee of the Baptist Church of Australia. His other great interests were English history and literature, of which he had a wide knowledge and love. He married Joan Denyer in 1946 and they had a daughter, Heather Joan. He died suddenly and unexpectedly, while preparing to attend a charity performance in aid of the Adelaide Children's Hospital, on November 21 1981, aged 61.