his first operas. These included the lead tenor role of 'Sir Walter Raleigh' in Edward German's opera “Merry England” in Brisbane in 1944 -‘The English Rose’. He also performed the lead tenor role of ‘Thaddeus’ in Michael William Balfe's opera “The Bohemian Girl” - ‘When Other Lips - Then You'll Remember Me’ and the role of 'Don Caesar de Bazen' in William Vincent Wallace's opera “Maritana” - ‘Yes Let Me Like A Soldier Fall’. In 1948, Donald joined the Brisbane Opera Society, and sang many leading tenor roles with them, such as 'Don José' in Georges Bizet's “Carmen”, the title role in Charles Gounod's “Faust”, the 'Duke of Mantua’ in Giuseppe Verdi's “Rigoletto”, ‘Roméo’ in Charles Gounod's opera “Roméo and Juliette" and ‘Turiddu’ in Pietro Mascagni's “Cavalleria Rusticana” and ‘Canio’ in Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera “Pagliacci”. The role of Canio in particular was a role which Donald would eventually 'make his own' and for which he would become famous for his portrayal of the jilted lover Canio. In 1952 after winning the 'Mobil Quest' singing competition in Australia, Donald travelled to Italy and then to England to study at London's National School of Opera. Following his return to Australia, Donald performed with an Italian touring company in 1955. Here he sang alongside singers such as Gabriella Tucci and Kenneth Neate. In 1958 he appeared with the then Elizabethan Trust Opera Company. (which eventually became ‘The Australian Opera Company’ and now ‘Opera Australia’). He sang the roles of 'Count Almaviva’ in Gioachino Rossini's opera “The Barber of Seville" and ‘Tamino’ in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera “The Magic Flute”. In 1960 he sang his first ‘Pinkerton’ in Giacomo Puccini's opera “Madama Butterfly” opposite the Australian soprano Dame Joan Hammond. In 1962 Donald again travelled to England to join the Sadlers Wells Opera Company. Here he performed many Verdi and Puccini operas including “Rigoletto”, “Attila”, “Ernani”, “A Masked Ball”, "Girl of the Golden West”, “Tosca” and “Il Trittico". He also made his debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where he sang the role of ‘Calaf in Giocomo Puccini's opera “Turandot" opposite the English soprano Amy Shuard. Donald remained in the UK for six years and returned to Australia in 1967 to sing with The Australian Opera, where he appeared is such roles as ‘Canio’ in “Pagliacci’, ‘Manrico’ in “Il Trovatore”, 'Bob Boles’ in Benjamin Britten's opera “Peter Grimes”, the 'Duke of Mantua’