Kevin Patrick McLEAN

Kevin Patrick McLean was born April 12th 1921. A mere 8 months later, his father Spencer died suddenly, leaving his mother Kathleen to pay off the mortgage of the house and raise the 4 children on her own.

There was anecdotal rumours that the boys were sent to a boys home when their father died and she took Yvonne to Work with her in another city. The possible boys homes are Bexley Boys Home and Hopefield Home in Marrickville

Kevin attended Primary School at St Charles in Waverley and then went to the Christian Brothers College at Waverley in 1935 aged 14. Kevin was a natural athlete and at Waverley, he flourished in many sports offered at the College. At age 16 (1937) he made the College's First XV Rugby team and First XI Cricket Team. In 1938 he was awarded the Corbett Cup for Sport Excellence as the Vice Capt of the First XV Rugby, and the First XI Circket, as well as College Boxing champion, and it also mentions Tennis, Handball, and Athletics. In his final Year (1939) Kevin was made Prefect of Waverley College and gained Captaincy of both the Rugby 1st XV and Cricket 1st XI (See Cap). One Article stated that he set a new record playing 50 First XV games for the college.

He and his brother Lin both shared a love and talent for both Rugby League and Union. There was a lot of competition between them with one article questioning who was actually better. While Kevin was still in school, Lindley was playing professional first grade rugby league and went to watch Lindley play a game but Lindley was injured so Kevin was asked to step in. This later caused controversy as there were rules against professional players being able to play amateur games (ie his school Rugby Union) but Kevin's aptitude for Rugby League may have been noticed here. In Feb 1940, he set out to play professionally for Newtown but was recruited by Eastern Suburbs.

After Eastern Suburbs for only a few months, he played for Newcastle

In January 1942, Kevin joined the Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Reserves (RANVR) as a 'Pay master Sub Lieutenant' in the Accountant Branch.

He was sent to work on multiple ships over the next 2 years, it is unsure where these were stationed but he was based out of Sydney. In January 1944 he was promoted to Lieutenant. For a better understanding of the rankings of the Accountant Branch and the Navy in General, please see this site. In May 1946 he was serving on the Kuttabul and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. His Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Badge was found in his belongings and is shown below.

His full Navy Record can be found here detailing the ships he worked on and his positions at each. There is one note mentioning that he was Confidentially "Off the books" working for the Staff Officer in Intelligence. Would be interesting to find out more but alas would be very difficult.

In 1945 he married Joyce Arthena Sandstrom. Their engagement was announced in the paper followed by a story about their marriage.

Wedding Party - ?, ?, Lin McLean, Kevin McLean, Joy Sandstrom, Yvonne McLean, Joan Burke?, C Fraser?

Kevin continued climbing in the Navy as years went by. He and Joy had 4 girls Marea (1946), Michele (1948), Maryanne (1949) and Marita (1952), all girls names were derived from the name 'Mary'. Reference unknown.

In the mid-late 50's, after marriage difficulties, Joy courageously (especially for her time) took the girls and separated from Kevin. Kevin resigned from the Navy in 1957 and later attempted running an advertising business which unfortunately failed. He lived with his brother Lindley in their family home for a short time then was later known to be involved in construction site admin jobs on the Gold Coast, QLD (around 1977 as per Kevin Robert McLean).

Kevin was not known to have had any further relationship with his ex-wife or daughters after they left. Little is known of him after his time with the Navy. His brother Lindley was the sole attendant at his funeral and the executor on his will/estate.