MATT BANKS- plastic surgeon/pilot
Matt Banks graduated in medicine from Sydney University in 1922. He first practised in Lismore where he took flying lessons from Keith Virtue. He bought a DH60 which he used to provide medical services as far west as Bourke.
He was personal physician to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. They became firm friends, often playing golf together. (After the death of CKS, his widow gave Matt Banks her husband's golf sticks.)
At the outbreak of the Second World War Banks sailed to England where he studied plastic surgery under Sir Archibald McIndoe. After the war he bought a Miles Gemini with which he flew to Europe on many occasions to treat wealthy patients. The wife of the Aga Khan, for instance. He and his wife flew as far as Greece for holidays. On one occasion he was arrested by British customs when gold bars were found hidden in the upholstery of the Gemini.
A biography of Matt Banks, 'No Man Despairs', was written by Alan Mitchell, who also wrote one on Neville Duke.
A search for an obituary has been fruitless. If one is known , Fantome would love to see it.