Dr Lucas graduated from Sydney University in 1971 and had 18 months as a Resident Medical Officer at Gosford Hospital before travelling to Zambia to take up a position as second in charge of a 250 bed Mission Hospital run by the Salvation Army. There he had responsibility for medical and surgical parients as well as obstetric and gynaecology patients and paediatrics. The surgical workload covered general and gynaecological surgery as well as reconstruction surgery as it related to leprosy patients. He performed most of the cararact surgery at the hospital during his 18 month stay there. Over and above this he was involved in under 5's and ante-natal clinics in outlying villages.