Clifford Last

Born in Barrow in Furness, England, he was the son of Nella Last, author of a World War II diary on which the TV film Housewife, 49 was based.

After war service in which he lost his closest companion and was injured himself, he trained in art and emigrated to Melbourne, Australia in 1947, and soon became a noted sculptor.

The group, originally called Centre Four, was founded in 1953 by Hungarian-born Julius Kane, featuring Last, Norma Redpath and German-born Inge King.

Centre Five was a splinter group of the Victorian Sculptors' Society comprising members Clifford Last, Inge King, Vincas Jomantas, Teisutis Zikaras, Julius Kane and Lenton Parr.

A fine example of his large-scale bronzes entitled "Family" was commissioned by the Government of Australia, in 1971, as an official gift to the international organization, Asian Development Bank, which displays it in its headquarters in Manila.

A young Clifford Last with his mother Nella
"Family", 1971