MCNAMEE, Kevin Matthew
| Service Numbers: | NX131806, NX131896 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 September 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Medical Corps (2nd AIF) |
| Born: | Moore Park, New South Wales, Australia, 1 June 1912 |
| Home Town: | Maitland, Maitland Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Medical Practitioner |
| Died: | Natural causes, Maitland, New South Wales, Australia, 23 April 1991, aged 78 years |
| Cemetery: |
Campbell's Hill (West Maitland) Cemetery Sect A6 Centre, plot 25 |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 30 Sep 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, NX131806 | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1942: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Captain, NX131896, Australian Army Medical Corps (2nd AIF) | |
| 23 Aug 1943: | Promoted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, Australian Army Medical Corps (2nd AIF) | |
| 16 Mar 1945: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, NX131896, Australian Army Medical Corps (2nd AIF), USAT Sea Barb, Cairns for Morotai and subsequent service at Tarakan and Balikpapan | |
| 20 Jun 1945: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, NX131896, Australian Army Medical Corps (2nd AIF), Borneo - Operation Oboe July - August 1945 | |
| 30 Jan 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, NX131806 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
Kevin Matthew McNamee, one of eight children of Matthew William McNamee and his wife Mary Gatty, was born and educated in Sydney and gained his medical degree from the Univeristy of Sydney in 1939.
A member of the Sydney University Regiment he enlisted in late 1941 and was sent to the officer's camp at Largs, near Maitland. It was here that he met and married his wife Moira, daughter of Maitland physician Dr James Joseph Hollywood who had served with the AAMC in Egypt during World War I.
In 1944 he undertook tropical training in North Queensland before embarking from Cairns in March 1945 to provide medical support for the Tarakan and Borneo campaigns. He returned to Australia in late September 1945.
Dr Kevin McNamee returned to Maitland following his military service before taking a locum role at Boggabri. However, he was back in Maitland soon after and entered joint practice with his father-in-law in the High Street family surgery. The surgery had a long family history, having been previously conducted by Dr Hollywood's father-in-law Dr William D. Power from 1880. Dr McNamee eventually bought the practice from Dr Hollywood.
Similar to his father-in-law, Dr McNamee became an honorary medical officer at Maitland Hospital and Maitland Gaol and the Area Medical Officer. He also provided honorary medical services to the Newcastle Aero Club and Hunter Legacy and as a practicing Catholic, he provided medical care to the local Catholic clergy.
Committed to his profession and the community, he was affectionately known as 'Dr Mac' and retained the family surgery in High Street until the building was sold and demolished in 1963. He moved to a new surgery next door which was built as part of the property sale arrangement to the Shell oil company.
Moira and Kevin McNamee were to have four children and resided above the High Street surgery until moving to the eastern Maitland suburb of Tenambit following the devestating 1955 flood.
Dr Kevin Matthew McNamee died at Maitland in 1991 survived by his wife Moira. She passed away in 1999.
References:
http://hfrc.une.edu.au/heritagefutures/maitland/main.php?ID=S305&area=site&enterFlg=front&fileLetter=S&form=3&userID=MMu633737505234
https://aconspicuousobject.com.au/stories/a-practice-of-doctors
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