11 Facts About Raphael Cilento

Sir Raphael West Cilento, often known as "Ray", was an Australian medical practitioner and public health administrator.

Raphael Cilento was educated at Prince Alfred College, but although he was determined from an early age to study medicine, he was initially thwarted in doing so due to lack of money.

Raphael Cilento served with the Australian Army's Tropical Force in New Guinea which superseded the German administration after the First World War.

Minister for Health Ned Hanlon recruited Raphael Cilento to achieve this goal as Director-General of Health and Medical Services.

Raphael Cilento was knighted by King George V in 1935 for his contributions to public service and tropical medicine.

Raphael Cilento achieved international fame after World War II for his work in aiding refugees with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.

Raphael Cilento was Director for Refugees and Displaced Persons from 1946 to 1947.

Raphael Cilento viewed the Arab refugee problem as a disaster comparable to an earthquake, flood or tidal wave.

Raphael Cilento resigned in 1950 after expressing sympathy with dispossessed Palestinian refugees.

Raphael Cilento died on 15 April 1985 in the Brisbane suburb of Oxley and was survived by his wife and six children.

In 1918, whilst they were both studying medicine at the University of Adelaide, Raphael Cilento became engaged to, and on 18 March 1920 at St Columba's Church of England, Hawthorn he married Phyllis McGlew, who became a well-known medical practitioner and medical writer.