Kenneth Evans JP AMIAA

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Biography

Kenneth was featured in a Meet Our Members Post on the WikiTree Blog!

Kenneth John Evans is a WISE Aussie, researching ancestors and their wider families who came from Wales, Ireland, Scotland as well as England. An army veteran, an entrepreneur, a family-man, a voluntary worker, mostly self-educated and a Christian, sum up much of his lifestyle and contribution to life. He is recognised as an organiser, forward-thinker, loyal and a man of integrity. His life-long hobby has been genealogy, mixed with Australian and military history.

Origins

Descendant of George Patfield.

Ken is a seventh-generation Australian, descended from such pioneer settlers and convicts as George Patfield, William Pincham, Paul Lutherborrow, Richard Worthing, Joseph Hammond, Alexander Barron, Lodwick Thomas, and of course Thomas (father) and Henry (son) Evans. Their families have spread out from Sydney's northern suburbs to many parts of New South Wales, to Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and beyond; some even returning to their United Kingdom roots. Genealogy has been Ken's hobby / obsession since he was single-digits, fed by parents, grandparents and uncles / aunts who recalled many exciting stories of family members and those who had gone before. He readily tells people that history / geography and genealogy / biography are two sides of one coin; it is not just the names and dates that bring family members 'to life' but what did they do, where did they live, and what was happening in their time both locally and internationally.

Whilst no genealogical connection appears to exist with Australia's Aboriginal peoples, Ken acknowledges the traditional, longer-term custodians of this land. He holds several of these more-distant cousins as friends and as fellow military veterans.

Formative years

Ken at 12 months of age

Kenneth John Evans was born at 12:15am on 18th January 1955 in the now-closed Pacific Private Hospital, Brighton-le-Sands, New South Wales, Australia. There is some confusion as to the identity of the traditional custodians of the district between the Cook's and George's Rivers; who appear to be either the Bidjigal (also claimed to be from the Baulkham Hills area in north west Sydney) or the Bediagal clan (the first indigenous people to encounter the First Fleet over the two days of 24-25th January 1788 (James Cook's HMS Endeavour crew in 1770 had greater contact with the Gweagal clan on Botany Bay's southern shore, east of the George's River, and the Gameygal clan on the bay's north shore, east of the Cook's River).

Ken's parents, both Second World War service veterans, were the late Herbert Arthur Evans (1919-2002) and Gwenda Edith Thomas (1924-2013). ^[1] He was christened Kenneth John on 20th February 1955 in St Columba's Presbyterian Church, Chester Hill, by the Reverend H Hillman. ^[2] The family lived at 9 Nyora Street, Chester Hill, in Greater Sydney's Bankstown region until re-locating to 51-53 Carberry Street, The Grange, Brisbane, Queensland in August 1957 as Ken's father sought employment. Ken's very much-loved siblings are Glenys (1949-), David (1950-50), Ronald (1952-) and Stephen (1957-).

Wilston State School

Ken attended the Wilston State School (1960-66) and Newmarket State High School (1967-69), whenever he couldn't find a way to play truant. He was a Boys' Brigader from the moment he was old enough to join The Life Boys at eight years of age; being presented his Queen's Badge by the Governor of Queensland His Excellency Air Marshal Sir Colin Hannah in 1972.

receiving The Queen's Badge

Ken was inspired by his Boys' Brigade leaders and always tried to emulate their example in faith and practice; particularly of note were Reg Walsh, Doug Lord, Bill Bain, Trevor Walsh, Peter Haylock and Paul Holden. Great memories were also formed in Sunday School, Christian Endeavour and Youth Group at The Grange Baptist Church.

playing footy with Grange Baptist

Playing the trumpet (tutored by Northern Command Band bandmaster, Ted Selby), breeding tropical fish, playing Rugby League for the Grange Baptist Football Club, and competing in track & field and cross-country races for Rangers Amateur Athletic Club kept him fairly active, healthy, and out of trouble. ^[3] Well, maybe!

Marriage and family

As an 18-year old, Ken married Kay MacLeod, granddaughter of Military Medal recipient, George Leighton MacLeod. Ken and Kay were married in the Graceville Methodist (now Uniting) Church, Graceville, Queensland, on 22nd September 1973, by the Rev'd Horace Butler-White. They had met at Ken's older brother's wedding that April, Ken being best man and Kay a bridesmaid. They were 'sort-of' related in that a cousin of Ken's mother was married to a cousin of Kay's father. Ken and Kay have three children: Stacey (1974-), Tammy (1976-) and David (1982-). The growing family lived briefly at 32 David Street, Alderley and then in the Army village at 32 Kokoda Street, Wacol, Queensland until Ken was posted to Sydney at the end of 1978, whereupon they lived briefly at 40 Dunmore Street North, Bexley (just two kilometres from where Ken began life) before being allocated Army married quarters at 700a Canterbury Road, South Belmore. They separated on 11th May 1986 and subsequently divorced, Kay returning to Brisbane with the children. Ken accepts that the combination of his military service and his deep involvement in The Boys' Brigade contributed to the pressures the marriage came under. ^[4]

Following the separation, Ken was no longer entitled to the married quarters and briefly moved into barracks at Middle Head before renting an apartment at 103 Queen Street, North Strathfield.

Ken & Terena engaged

Ken has been married since 16th December 1989 to Terena-Maree, whose ancestors include Bunt, Pollard, Pearce, Griffiths, Fry, Boniface, Hickson and more. They're even the sixth marriage connection between their two families. Between them they have 17 convict ancestors and considerably more free settlers to Australia. Ken and Terena were married in Concord Baptist Church, North Strathfield, New South Wales, ^[5] by a special friend, Rev'd Stephen Donald Renn, and have two daughters; Tahnee-Ellen (1992-) and Hayley-Maree (1995-). Their wedding was special in that they are the only couple to have paraded the New South Wales Boys' Brigade Colours at their wedding. At the time Ken was the BB New South Wales Executive Officer (fulltime position), and Vice-President Administration and Training Director (both honorary positions). After living in the North Strathfield unit, they lived at Parklea briefly before moving to 14 Icarus Place, Quaker's Hill, Blacktown. In 1995 Ken, Terena and their girls moved to Beaudesert, in the beautiful Scenic Rim of south-east Queensland. ^[6]

Ken and his kinder.

Ken is most happily a husband, father (of five), grandfather (of seven), great grandfather (of three), brother, uncle, great uncle, nephew, and cousin. The more he learns the more he realises that life is purely about family: one's own family and other families with whom one comes in contact either for long-term or simply a season.

Working & Volunteer life

Aged fifteen years, Ken found employment in April 1970 as a draper in the Queen Street, Brisbane head store of Barry & Roberts department stores (no longer in operation). Quickly learning the drapery trade and being trained as a junior departmental manager by Mr Paul Barry, he progressed to manchester and men's wear before being promoted to manager / buyer of toys (at eighteen years of age!). Leaving Barry's following the 1974 Brisbane floods was a wrench but the following months learning the wholesale fabric and haberdashery trade with J Leutenegger Pty Ltd, under John Leutenegger (grandson of the founder) was also an exceptional and profitable experience.

Kenneth Evans JP AMIAA is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Regular Army 1974-1988, attaining the rank of Bombardier.
Gunner in the Royal Australian Artillery.

Australian Defence Medal

On 25th June 1974, Ken gave the oath of allegience to Queen Elizabeth II and Australia and became a career soldier in the Australian Regular Army in which he served with the:

• 101st Field Battery, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery (1974-78);
• HQ Battery (Cadre) 23rd Field Regiment RAA (1979-80);
• 102nd Field Battery RAA (1981-82);
• Headquarters Training Command (1982-87); and
• District Support Unit Moorebank (1987).

After working as a Gun Number on M2A2 Howitzers (with the privileged Army driver's licence class of GT; for gun towing, not gran tourismo), Ken trained in signals and worked both in artillery command posts and with forward observers. Struggling for fitness after injuring a knee, he changed ECNs to become a storeman in the quartermaster stores, having opportunity to input to the army's new equipment management manuals and the procurement of new computer and technological equipment for the army's training establishments. The 'crook' knee, injured in service, put paid to promotion to senior non-commissioned rank so Ken 'called time' on his military career after nearly fourteen years. ^[7]

The Boys' Brigade's anchor logo

After leaving the Army, Ken was appointed Executive Officer / Vice President Administration of The Boys' Brigade New South Wales (BB NSW), succeeding BB stalwart, John Bernard Gowman. During the three years Ken held this position, BB in New South Wales became re-energised, began to grow numerically, and programmes such as Leadership Development Courses were commenced. He visited every one of the 110 BB Companies in the State, encouraged the re-development of the regional Battalion system and improved access to everything BB for country-based members.

Moving on from the 'dream job', Ken spent twenty years as an events manager; employed, contracted and self-employed. He managed events from simple half-day and day seminars to complex residential conferences to trade exhibitions to golden wedding anniversary celebrations and special community events. Ken completed the Diploma of Event Management in 2004 and was appointed an Associate-Fellow of the Meetings Industry Association of Australia (AMIAA). ^[8]

Ken holds tertiary qualifications in: ^[9]

• Biblical Studies (New Tribes Bible College)
• Events Management (Meetings Industry Association of Australia)
• Small Business Management (BSB-40-401 Ashby Allan Institute)
• Security and Small Arms (TNT Security Australia)
• Signals and Radio Communication (Australian Army), and
• Equipment / Asset Management (Australian Army)

mature-aged Kenneth Evans.

Ken has been a volunteer leader and executive member with The Boys' Brigade most of his life, starting in 1973 as an eighteeen year-old. ^[10] He has been at various times Captain of the 17th Brisbane, 13th Ipswich, 66th NSW Clemton Park, 31st NSW Concord and 1st Beaudesert Companies. He has served on regional executives as St George Battalion President and South Moreton Battalion Secretary. State Directorates in Training (New South Wales) and Development (Queensland) have given him immense personal satisfaction. Ken was appointed as a trustee of the charitable trust, The BB Fund. Involvement on the Australian executive included membership of both the Management Committee and Publications Committee. In 1990 he represented Australia at a world conference on Christian youth held in Singapore. In these responsibilities Ken grew particularly close to Carl Harman (then NSW Vice President Operations) and Brian Hicking (NSW No. 2 Section Director).

Kenneth became a believer in 1967 and has since been active as a Bible-study facilitator, prayer facilitator, deacon and elder in local churches

Ken has mixed all of the above with strong involvement in local Christian churches, being appointed deacon in The Grange Baptist, Gailes Baptist, Clemton Park Baptist and Beaudesert Baptist, and elder in Logan West Community and Beaudesert Baptist Churches. He has been an acknowledged elder of two home-based Christian fellowships as well as a Bible-study group facilitator and study leader in most of the above church settings. He has been a regular 'lay preacher' (unofficial in evangelical circles) and service leader since seventeen years of age.

The general community has also benefitted from Ken's serving heart, from The Grange Progress Hall Association in Queensland, to the King's Langley Community Centre and Quaker's Hill Community Centre, both in New South Wales. He was a valued member of the Creation Science Foundation / Answers in Genesis South-east Queensland Support Group for ten years. Ken was appointed Justice of the Peace in New South Wales. ^[11]

Life-long practical interests

Ken, a happy man

Ken is an insatiable reader; moreso in non-fiction genres such as history, biographies, the Bible, military topics, and anything Australian (novels and poetry make up about 10% of his reading): his library alone finely 'whittled-down' from over 2,500 titles at it's peak to today's five hundred. His favourite fiction writers are Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter), William Stuart Long (Vivian Stuart), Arthur Upfield, Richard Butler, and Jules Verne. And, if you cannot quote some C J Dennis then your life is surely lacking! Of Christian topics, Ken says, "Don't give me commentaries; I want handbooks that enable me to see what the Bible has to say for myself."

In his family time, Ken loves to play chess, billiards, table tennis, Mah Jong, as well as almost any table / board strategy or word games, listen to good music and watch classic drama films with family and friends.

Some of his favourite musicians / singers include Herb Alpert, The Bee Gees, Richard Clayderman, Buddy Davis, the Highwaymen, Lee Kernaghan, Roy Orbison, Cliff Richard, Demis Roussos, the Seekers, and Roger Whittaker.

Arguably his all-time favourite film is The Great Escape (Steve McQueen, Sir Richard Attenborough, David McCallum), although The Ballad of Cable Hogue (Jason Robards, Stella Stevens, David Warner, IQ Jones), Brewster's Millions (Richard Prior, John Candy, Tovah Feldshuh), Convoy (Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, Ernest Borgnine), and We Were Soldiers (Sam Elliott, Barry Pepper and Mel Gibson) come close. Almost anything Steve McQueen, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Hanks, Colin Firth or Morgan Freeman will capture his undivided attention. ^[12]

Author

Becoming Born Again

Ken is a published author and has written some twenty books and manuscripts on Australian history, Biblical and Christian living topics, biographical works, as well as leadership development, equipment management and event management manuals. They're not for sale though. Contact Ken by private message and he will e-mail you a .pdf copy. He asks only that you agree to give him feedback on the book. Included amongst his titles are:

1. Becoming Born Again: A Fresh Look at John Chapter Three
2. Biblical Chrono-Genealogy
3. Building a Christian Heritage in Australia
4. Creation, Corruption and the Consequences: a Look at Genesis Chapters 1 to 11
5. In Defence of Australia: Herbert Arthur Evans in the Second World War (shortly available at Paddle to Australia
6. James’ Letter: The Proving of Faith Accomplishes Patience
7. The Kings of the Divided Kingdom of Israel
8. Leading the Church, Biblically: Christ’s Church being Managed Christ’s Way
9. The Letter to the Believers in Rome
10. Paddle to Australia: the Story of George & Mary Patfield
11. Revealing God’s Plan: the Covenants of the Bible
12. Spiritual Gifts: God’s Means of Empowering Believers to Minister to One Another

WikiTree

Kenneth Evans JP AMIAA is a Project Member of the Military and War subproject World War II

Genealogy has been an expensive hobby at times but, thankfully, online search registers, WikiTree, and social media, have brought things well within grasp. With WikiTree, it is like you have an enormous team working beside you, because that is what collaborating amounts to. When you're stuck, just call for help. Somebody will be there. Ken finds that WikiTree enables him to both work within his family and on the wider one-world family tree.

As well as working on his own family (and those of Kay, Terena and his children-in-law), Ken has helped source and bio-build profiles of many people not associated with his families. Maybe he has helped you with one of your profiles. As well as working on his own Australian projects such as Second Boer War, Australian Army Generals, The Boys' Brigade, Christians of Influence, Victoria Cross Recipients and Beaudesert War Memorial, Ken gives his time to several 'official' WikiTree Projects, such as:

• Military & War, including The Great War and Second World War sub-projects;
• Notables; and
• Profile Improvement.

Since joining WikiTree in December 2017, Ken has surpassed 1,000 contributions every month (except three when he was recovering from hospital stays), with more than (as of December 2023) 300,000 contributions. On the genealogist-to-genealogist (G2G) forum he is a G2G Pilot, indicating that he has surpassed 100,000 contributory points (over 200,000 points as of December 2023).

What Ken has been, or is, working on can be seen at Ken's Own Projects.

Residences

Chester Hill, New South Wales 1955-57
The Grange, Queensland 1957-74
Wacol, Queensland 1975-78
South Belmore, New South Wales 1979-86
North Strathfield, New South Wales 1987-90
Quakers Hill, New South Wales 1990-95
Beaudesert, Queensland 1995-99
Boronia Heights, Queensland 1999-2008
Mount Warren Park, Queensland 2009-11
Beaudesert, Queensland 2011-

Ken’s Ancestors Research Status

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #39/1955
2. ↑ christening certificate held by family
3. ↑ first-hand information
4. ↑ first-hand information
5. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #7219/1989
6. ↑ first-hand information
7. ↑ Australian Army service record and discharge certificate for 1205173 Bombardier Kenneth John Evans
8. ↑ certificate of appointment held by the family of Ken Evans
9. ↑ certificates held by the family of Ken Evans
10. ↑ Staff Sergeant and Officer appointment certificates held by the family of Ken Evans
11. ↑ certificate of appointment held by the family of Ken Evans
12. ↑ personal reflections

When I'm resting

The time will, inevitably, come for my rest and relief from life's hectic cycle and my 'good' friend, pain. It may be, though I do hope not, that I will one day merely be unable through physical or mental illness to continue my research and recording into my family and other profiles of interest.

At that time, I place the profiles that I manage into the caring hands of the Wikitree Admin. If any member/s of my family have the desire to continue what has been started, I ask that they be allowed to manage those profiles whether or not they are currently on the Trusted Lists for those profiles and be shown the guidance to continue in the proper manner.

I also manage many profiles of people unrelated to me (to the best of my knowledge), particularly Australian Army Generals, Victoria Cross recipients, other notable Australians and notable Christians. Those profiles that are locked for privacy reasons I would desire to see transferred to someone with an interest in those projects or sub-projects. Kenneth Evans 18 Jan 2018.