Kevin Deane Rawson
Kevin was an avid long-time Sea Shepherd supporter, and they graciously offered to release Kevin at sea, which was his final wish. We took a trip to Tasmania to meet the wonderful captain and crew of the Sea Shepherd ship the Allankay. Kevin's ashes were sealed inside a bio-degradeable turtle urn, entrusted to the captain of the vessel, who kept Kevin by her side for months as the ship was undergoing technical challenges which delayed their journey.
From Meg Watt, Captain of the Allankay:
On the 30th January, we went out for sea trials in Moreton Bay with the AllanKay, and determined we were ready for our voyage to New Zealand.
The 31st, at 17.00 we cast off the lines and started out the Brisbane River. We dropped off our pilot by Mooloolaba just after midnight, and for the beginning of our voyage, we headed south to parallel the coastline and catch the East Australia Current for a bit of a boost.
Once we got down to our chosen latitude we headed out across the sea in a SE'ly direction.
Our course towards New Zealand took us directly between Lord Howe Island and Balls Pyramid, a spectacular pinnacle of rock that towers up from the water majestically.
On the 3rd February, we approached Lord Howe as the sun was rising, and in the morning hours, as we were in the lee of the land, we launched our small boat to do some practice maneuvers.
With the spectacular backdrop of Lord Howe and its dramatic cliff, we took Kevin to put him to rest at sea.
Our crew carried him to the small boat, and we had a small ceremony to wish him goodbye.
His urn was put into the water at 07.50, 03rd February.
It was a poignant moment for us, I know many people were reflecting on their loved ones at home, and those they had lost. The peacefulness and ruggedness of the location was awe inspiring.
Kevin was born in July 1951 at Millicent, South Australia. He was baptised on 29 December 1953 at Scots Church, Portland, Victoria.
Kevin’s favourite pastime as a very young child was to convert a wooden wheelbarrow to rust by hammering hundreds of nails into it.
Kevin was educated at Portland Primary, Warracknabeal High and West Geelong Technical schools.
At 15 and a half he absconded from home and school and found work at the Echuca Flour Mill for four months. He returned home and worked for Lukey Mufflers for three months. He was sacked from this job for being accident prone. He remained unemployed for six months and then enlisted in the army, completing his initial training at Kapooka. He was transferred to Ingleburn for secondary training then to the tracking
platoon, where he trained as a visual tracker and dog handler. Kevin was selected to represent the army in the Queens Medal Shoot but was disqualified in the first round when the armourer set his rifle sights six feet too low! Later, he was placed on standby for transfer to Malaya, but after being on standby for 6 months he went AWOL and five days later surfaced in Waluna West Australia. Kevin found the West too hot and decided to return to the army. For his misadventure he was fined and confined to barracks for seven days then transferred to the demonstration platoon, assisting in the training of new recruits. Kevin was later stationed at Ingleburn prior to leaving the army to join the NSW police force.
On leaving the army Kevin joined the NSW Police, completing his basic training at the Sydney Police Barracks. After basic training he joined the mounted police but after 12 months decided that this was not his wisest choice of a job. He transferred to patrol duties at Cronulla and then Kogarah. At this time Kevin began scuba diving and travelled to Queensland in the pursuit of this sport over the next few years. Whilst stationed at Kogarah he was involved in prisoner escort duty with other police when one of the prisoners escaped. As a result he was transferred to the transport section. Kevin found this section to his liking and decided to stay a while. His duties were mainly transferring prisoners to and from Long Bay jail to various courts in the metropolitan and country centres. His other duties were driving the night wireless car with plain clothes police. During this time Kevin was awarded a commendation for bravery after he foiled an armed hold-up at Ramsgate even though he tripped and broke his arm in the process.
In 1982. Kevin also resigned from the police force. Kevin joined the Volunteer Coast Guard at Kiama and was elected Commodore in 1982. However he left Kiama and moved to Melbourne and lived with his sister Pam and her husband Vasel. Kevin joined the Victorian Offshore Powerboat Club where he and Vasel participated in several races. Due to money shortages Kevin and Vasel were never truly successful. Kevin worked for MSS Patrol Services in Melbourne but due to incessant cold weather decided to move to Sydney. In Sydney he worked as a private inquiry agent then as a quality controller in a glass factory and finished up as a fisheries inspector. Kevin was elected Commodore of the Offshore Powerboat Club and held this position for 18
months. Kevin met Anne Pery and moved in.
Kevin transferred to Eden as a Fisheries Inspector so Anne and Kevin moved south. After living in Eden for 3-4 months the cold got to him again so Anne and Kevin packed up and moved north. Kevin had resigned from the Fisheries and Kevin and Anne arrived in Rockhampton Queensland hot and broke so turned south again and returned to the Gold Coast for work.
In 1987 he moved to Surfers Paradise where he operated a supermarket at Kirra with his partner Anne. Kevin joined the NSW Rural Fire Service while living in Murwillumbah. He was later posted to Moulamein in western NSW and aftersolving all their fire issues he moved to a preferable location of Moruya on the south coast of NSW. This again provided Kevin with the opportunity for fishing and scuba diving. Of course, the fishing also
lead to acquiring a boat, which was very well used.
Kevin and Anne were married when Anne finally said ‘Yes’.
In 2016 when Kevin turned 65 he retired and took the opportunity for a move to the warmer climate of the north coast of NSW. He and Anne sold their home in Moruya and moved a new home at Illuka, on the north coast of NSW. After 6 years in Illuka Kevin and Anne were on the move again – this time to Warwick in Queensland.
In July 2024 Kevin was diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer. Kevin’s health deteriorated in September and he passed away on 5th October 2024.
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