Fred Schonell was born in 1900. He became a teacher and completed his PhD degree in Education at the University of London in 1932. He held the positions of Lecturer, Examiner, and Professor for various universities in England. He was appointed First Professor of Education with the University of Queensland in 1949. Schonell was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland in 1960. He was knighted in 1962 Schonell's research interests were primary school education methods, especially slow learners. He died in 1969.

Brian Thomas Doyle, born in Sydney on 18 January 1915 was an Australian Catholic journalist and editor. He was educated at Marist Brothers Randwick and was dux in 1932. He won the Freehill Scholarship to St John's College at the University of Sydney but the death of his father in 1929 meant he had to leave school to work and help support his family. He trained and worked with the Public Library of NSW from 1933 to 1941 and was a foundation member of the Library Association of Australia. Working by day and studying by night at the University of Sydney, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1936 and a Diploma in Public Administration in 1938. He worked as an associate editor at the Catholic weekly in Sydney in 1944 and became Editor of Brisbane's The Catholic leader in 1959, where he played a key role in interpreting the Second Vatican Council for Australian readers. From 1961, he was Managing Editor. A prodigious writer, he opposed the political use of church authority and took a stand against clerical intervention, amongst other issues such as social reform and social justice. He was the first layperson to become President of the Catholic Press Association (1966 to 1968). Doyle was also a formidable opponent of B.A. Santamaria for invoking the authority of the church for partisan political goals in the 1950s. Doyle resigned from The Catholic leader in 1981 over a directive from the Australian bishops restricting advertising content, citing concerns about journalistic independence. An active public speaker and lecturer, he closely studied the Australian political scene, particularly the Catholic Church and politics. Ill health prevented him from writing a book on the movement. He died in Brisbane on 17 September 2003, survived by his wife, Philomene Doyle (née Foster).