Martin Nelson Haley (1905-1980) was born on 7 July 1905 at New Farm, Brisbane. His parents, Nelson Nathan Haley and Mary Josephine (nee Kiely), moved Martin and his two younger siblings to Nambour in 1907. Educated at the local primary school, he subsequently entered St Joseph’s College, Nudgee in 1918 on a state scholarship. In 1925, he began his long career as a schoolteacher, retiring in December 1970. In 1933, he began writing articles for the Catholic Leader. He came to be regarded as one of Queensland’s most distinguished poets. Haley was also a prolific writer of historical articles. He was involved with the Catholic Poetry Society of Queensland (founded by Paul Grano), the Catholic Readers’ and Writers’ society, and the Catholic Writers’ Movement. He published numerous books of verse and translations. He died on 18 October 1980 at Paddington, Brisbane.

Cecil Hadgraft was born 8 June 1904 at Melbourne, brought up at Rockhampton, winning an open scholarship to the University of Queensland at 16 years of age. Cecil Hadgraft was a senior lecturer and reader in the English Department at the University of Queensland. He was a prominent Australian literary critic and historian.