Early Years
Brain was born 18 January 1893 in Picton. The eldest of nine children, he left school at 13 years of age to work in Scone dairying. At about 20 years of age, he moved to Sydney to look for work and delivered milk at Mascot until all his possessions were stolen forcing him to return home to his parents at Mudgee. These early hardships were critical in forming the substance of the man and Brain was left with a resolute determination to educate himself and a realisation of the importance of access to education to all people regardless of their wealth and status. Such experience motivated his subsequent passion for the free library movement and its importance in society.
Brain studied book-keeping of an evening by the light of a slush light after working 16 hours straight during the day. On moving to the Sydney suburb of Willoughby in 1920 after his marriage to Paula Merkle in 1918, he passed his accountancy examinations and formed the partnership of Brain and Noble chartered accountants. From 1918, he took an active interest in the Progress Association, P&C association and political parties and thus began his political career.
In the 1930s, Brain together with George Morris of Eastern Valley Way, Willoughby promoted the "free milk movement for school children", a scheme which relieved parents financially during the depression and ensured the health of generations of children. In 1941, Brain was the president of the "Monster war carnival" held at Willoughby park. The carnival which was opened by the Rt Hon Billy Hughes raised in excess of £1,000 sufficient at this time to buy two ambulances for the war effort.
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