Mervyn Edwards McLennan (1909 - 1993)

Born 19 Aug 1909 in Springfield, Tasmania, Australia

Ancestors

Died 8 Nov 1993 at age 84 in Scottsdale, Tasmania, Australia

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Biography

Mervyn was born in 1909. He was the son of Donald McLennan and Eveline Richardson.

Children

• Patsy Anne McLennan - md: Robert Keith RICHMAN
  • Andrew
  • Tony
  • Craig
  • Jane
• Wendy McLennan
• Judith McLennan

A Wager Won
GOOD PERFORMANCE BY MERY. MCLENNAN
NEARLY 17 MINUTES TO SPARE,
Quite of lot of interest was created in a wager made between A. E. Osborne and Merv McLennan, that the latter could not run from 'Osborne's gate in Eleanor Street to Mr. Tom Austin's gate Cuckoo, a distance which proved to be slightly over 6½ miles, within an hour. The runner accomplished the journey in 43 minutes 11 seconds, nearly 17 minutes under the time stipulated, and was warmly congratulated on his performance.
McLennan is a lightly built but muscular young man, and solid work on the farm keeps him in good fettle. Clad in shorts and singlet, he was given a hearty send-off on his journey, and three car loads followed his progress throughout stopping at each mile, and cheering the runner as he passed. Whether up hill or down dale, McLennan loped along at what seemed an easy gait, with out showing any signs of fatigue, in fact, he seemed to regard his long run as a brief afternoon's relaxation. The first mile was run in 6 minutes 12 seconds, the second in 7.33, the third in 5.55, the sixth in 7.15, leaving him 20i minutes to complete the last stage, a distance of over half a mile. He could have walked this and still won the wager, hut he kept up a steady jog trot with the same easy movement, finishing an uphill run with a burst of speed to the winning post, to the accompaniment of cheering. The total time was 43 minutes, 11 seconds. Austins gate at 'Sylvan Glade' was adorned with a flag and a bottle of cordial, which latter the runner round very acceptable.
All who witnessed, the finish were entertained by Mr. and Mrs Austin to afternoon tea, over which incidents in the events were happily recalled. McLennan was no the least distressed after his run, and looked, fit enough to run back again.
It is interesting to note that the average for each mile was 6 min. 6 secs., and the speed throughout was a fraction over 9 miles per hour. The performance is all the more meritorious in that McLennan had never run a mile before, and had no training, but accepted the wager in a true sporting spirit, bringing to the fore that same courage and determination which characterises his daily life.
- North-Eastern Advertiser (Scottsdale, Tas.) Tue 29 Oct 1940

13-6-1981 Awarded MBE B38 Supplement to the London Gazette, 13 Jun 1981 for his service to the Community and to primary industry.

He passed away in 1993.

Sources

• Ancestry.com