Born in Strathfield, Kevin moved frequently as a child. “We moved around quite a bit and I lived in so many places as a kid,” he recalled. His parents were always searching for a better place. He remembered living in Croydon Park, Ashfield, Arncliffe and Burwood before his parents finally settled in Guildford.
Kevin didn’t have fond memories of his early school life. “Growing up, I used to stutter, and the Sisters at the Catholic school used to send me out to the sandpit during lessons because they couldn’t understand me,” he said.
Life in Guildford gave Kevin some stability. “I couldn’t spell and I couldn’t read, until I got to my school in Guildford - which was the best,” said Kevin. And it was there that he found his favourite teacher, Mrs Stewart. “She was wonderful. She taught me how to read and took the time with me,” he said. “I’m still not 100% at spelling, but I can read everything.”
When asked about his family, Kevin mentioned a sister he never met, as she passed away before he was born, and he wasn’t a huge fan of his brother. “He was a bit of a bully, so we didn’t really get on that well.” His parents later adopted a baby girl. “Mum wouldn’t let my brother go near her - only me. I was allowed to help take care of her. I don’t think she ever knew she was adopted - and I never said anything.”
For fun, Kevin and his brother used to go on walks, as well as go camping on weekends by themselves, but Kevin recalls it wasn’t always fun. “I remember one time we went away and my brother was old enough to go to the pub, so he left me to go get drunk.”
“We also went camping on the Hawkesbury. We would get a boat and go down the river. That was fun,” he said. “As a family, we always went on holidays to Woy Woy.”
At the age of 19, Kevin met Dorothy - the love of his life. “I met Dorothy at tennis, and as soon as I saw her I said, ‘She’s the one for me,’” beamed Kevin, reminiscing. “We started playing tennis as doubles partners - after the girl I was playing with hit her head on the court and decided not to play again.”
In describing their courtship, Kevin explained how things started. “A group of us went out together to the movies. It was funny that Dorothy always made sure a friend of hers sat between us - but she always accepted the chocolates I bought her.”
“One day I found out it was her mother’s birthday and I wanted to take them both out to lunch. Her mum said she wouldn’t go but to still take Dorothy. I took her out and that’s when love blossomed.” They married at St John’s Church in Parramatta and built a family with one daughter and two sons.
When it came to work, Kevin took on an apprenticeship at Leichhardt in woodwork. “I worked at many different jobs, spending three or six months working on a project, then I’d have to go look for work again.” He held roles in carpentry and maintenance at Ryde Council, Callan Park Psychiatric Hospital and Marsden Hospital, where he eventually became the leading hand. “I enjoyed it, but I left at 60 - I took my super and went.”
An injury forced Kevin into early retirement. “I tore a stomach muscle lifting 100kg doors and ended up on a disability pension. I had to go to court and the company got in trouble for this,” said Kevin, explaining the lack of health and safety policies back then.
Throughout their life together, Kevin and Dorothy enjoyed travelling. They went on nine cruises and completed a five-month road trip around Australia. “It was a perfect trip and we loved every minute. We covered 26,000 km in a Nissan Skyline,” he said proudly. The journey took them across the Nullarbor, up the coast, and to Ayers Rock (now Uluru), which Kevin climbed. They visited Kalgoorlie’s gold mines, flew over the Bungle Bungles, saw Wave Rock, and even rode camels in Darwin.
Kevin and Dorothy have lived together at SummitCare Penrith since May 2024. “I told them about the stew I used to make, and they told me to come and show them how to cook it,” Kevin said. “We had it for dinner that night - it was really good.”
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