Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

RONALD JAMES McVEY - NX 112753
Ronald James McVey was born on 26th June, 1922 to Edgar Cavan and Amelia Beatrice McVey in the Royal Hospital for Women in Paddington. At the time the family were living in North Sydney. Ron was the eldest of three children, his brother Alan John was born in 1925 and his sister Dawn in 1927.
Ron was educated at Crow’s Nest Public School until the family moved to Moore St, Rozelle then his education continued at Smith Street Public school and his secondary education was at Fort Street Boys’ High School.
The family were still living in North Sydney when the arch of the Harbour Bridge was joined in September 1930 and Ron remembers all the ferries and boats tooting their horns. By the time the bridge was opened in March 1932 they were living in Rozelle.
In 1937 Ron was apprenticed as a motor mechanic in Palmer Street, Woolloomooloo and being only 15 years old he had to ride a pushbike from Rozelle to work over the Glebe Island and Pyrmont bridges. He was still working for this motor mechanic when he enlisted on 13th October, 1941.
Ron trained in camps at Wallgrove, Thornleigh and Greta in NSW before going by ship to WA. Training continued at Chidlows, Gin Gin, Geraldton, Moora, Dandaragan and Mingenew for 14 months. He celebrated his 21st birthday on a hill at Dandaragan. He enjoyed his time in WA especially around Geraldton so much that he would have like to have gone there to live after his marriage, Jean didn’t want to leave her family in Hurstville. Six months training was undertaken near Tinaroo Dam, Atherton QLD before he went to New Guinea. Ron “worked” as a driver and mechanic during the war.
Following the war Ron returned to the same mechanic from 1947 until that fellow retired in 1951. Ron then worked for himself in various premises until he was approached by AMOCO in 1963 to operate one of their new service stations. Over the next 18 years he successfully operated four service stations in partnership with his wife at Bexley, Kingsgrove, Rockdale and Brighton-le-Sands, the only way he could have a long holiday was to close up and when he was ready to start again AMOCO were always pleased to have him back again.
Ron married Alice Irene Jean MacGregor in 1947. Ron met Jean through his mate Donnie MacGregor NX 112759 during their training in Sydney. Ron and Jean had two daughters in 1949 and 1952.
Ron and Jean decided not to wait for a War Service Loan to build their house, so built it themselves over several years as money and materials became available, finally moving in June, 1951. During this same time frame Ron was involved in the establishment of the Kingsgrove RSL in two Nissen huts in Kingsgrove Ave.
Ron and the family enjoyed caravanning from the mid 1950’s until 1997 including extended trips including several to WA. Both his daughters and their husbands bought caravans in 1970s and 1980s and in 2023 are still caravanning.