Benjamin Rank was considered by many to be the father of plastic surgery in Australia. He was born on 14 January 1911 in Heidelberg, Victoria, where his father, Wreghitt Rank, owned a grain store and mill. His mother was Bessie née Smith. He was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne, and Ormond Coll

Alfred Murray Clarke was born at Kui Kiang, China, on 11 January 1909. His father was Ernest Edward Clarke a missionary and his mother Marina, née More, was a teacher. His early education in China was from his mother and in 1921 at the age of twelve he went to Caulfield Grammar School, Melbourne, fo