Ivan Southall was born on 8 June 1921 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was a writer, known for Let the Balloon Go (1976) and Hills End (1988). He died on 15 November 2008 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
He was awarded the D.F.C. (Distinguished Flying Cross) on October 31, 1944 for his services to 461 Squadron for the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.