Ralph Newton McCann was born in Australia and from 1934 to 1940 was at St Peter's Collegiate in Adelaide. He then attended the University and Royal Adelaide Hospital graduating MB BS in 1946. After a year in a house appointment he served in the Australian Army with BCOF Japan in 1947-48 and at Woomera 1948-49. He came to England and was resident clinical assistant at Moorfields Hospital. He obtained the FRCS in 1957 and in 1958 was appointed senior assistant ophthalmic surgeon Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne. He married in 1967. He died on 31 July, 1975, survived by his wife Suzanne.