On addressing our first meeting in 1976, I speculated on whether the study of the brain and behaviour which had flowered in the preceding decade would continue to develop and assist us in treating brain impaired individuals. Not only did this happen but our Society (Australian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment) founded two years later has gone from one good thing to another. My reservation in accepting the invitation to speak at this 23rd Annual Brain Impairment Conference was a concern about preaching to the converted. My life-time role has been that of missionary, both at home and abroad and, like teachers of all faiths, I have no reservations about repeating what are to me fundamental truths. I will try to keep to the theme of the emergence of ideas rather than an autobiography, but some chronology will help set the background.