Martin Nelson Haley was born on 7 July 1905 in New Farm, Brisbane. His parents, Nelson Nathan Haley and Mary Josephine (née 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. Initially working in banking, he turned to education in 1925 and began his long career as a schoolteacher, teaching at various institutions in Queensland until his retirement in 1970. In 1933, he began contributing to The Catholic leader and other religious publications. He came to be regarded as one of Queensland’s most distinguished poets, though he never gained widespread mainstream recognition. 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, and served as editor of Vista in his later years. Survived by his wife and three daughters, Haley died on 18 October 1980 in 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.