Frank Lawes was born in 1897. His father was a medical graduate of the University of Sydney. Frank was the eldest of four brothers and the youngest of the family was a sister. He, his brothers, and before them their father, all had their school education at Newington College. Frank was a distinguished pupil at school. He finished next to the dux, played cricket in the first eleven, football in the first fifteen, and was prominent in the school cadets.

After completing one or two years in the faculty of medicine at the University of Sydney, he enlisted in the AIF. After further training his university contingent was due to go overseas, but the War finished one week before their intended departure. So back to medicine. He finally graduated MB ChM in 1921, being third in the year with second-class honours. The second brother of the family also graduated in medicine and the third brother in dentistry.

He spent two years as RMO at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, then went into general practice at Hornsby where he continued to work until 1939. No doubt he could have maintained his association with RPAH and become an honorary physician, but he chose general practice and became a beloved family doctor. During this time he was associated with the beginning and development of Hornsby District Hospital. Whilst in general practice he held the position for some time of honorary secretary of the Kuring-gai District Medical Association. In 1937 he was awarded the Coronation Medal.

Frank married Molly Ruse in 1925. They had four daughters, and he was a wonderful husband and father. It is interesting that his four daughters have produced a total of fourteen grandchildren, most of whom are in various professions, including two doctors and two veterinary surgeons. During his years at Hornsby he continued his interest in sport, playing cricket with the University Veterans, excelling in bowling. As he matured, cricket gave place to tennis and, in later years, to lawn bowls. Another absorbing interest was classical music and Gilbert and Sullivan. Much of the latter he is said to have been able to recite by heart.

In 1939 Frank passed the Membership examination and became one of the early Members of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He then gave up general practice and moved to Macquarie Street to practice as a consultant physician. During World War II he was on the Army Reserve and spent considerable time with the military forces in camps with field ambulance and casualty clearing units.

In 1944 he was appointed to the HMO staff of Royal North Shore Hospital as an assistant physician. In 1949 he was made an honorary physician, which position he held until his retirement in 1957. During this time he was most assiduous in his care of his patients, he treated the nursing staff with the respect due to them, and in particular he was a good teacher of the medical students who started at the hospital in 1948. Frank really was one of the greats at RNS, particularly in its early years as a teaching hospital.

He continued to practise in Macquarie Street, being emeritus consultant physician at both RNSH and Hornsby District Hospital until his death in 1967. During this time he maintained his interest in the Hospitals and was often seen at functions arranged by them.