Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

* Damien Patrick Kennedy( M.B.E.)
Born - 13.04.1905
Buried- 12.07.1976
Age 71 yrs

Damien's parents were Jeremiah & Margaret Angela Kelleher.
He was the youngest of their four children.
His siblings were -
John Michael (Jack) 1899
Gerald Joseph (Ged) 1900
Ellen Mary ( Nell) 1902.

Damien was born at the family home " Ardmore"
at 30 William Street. Hopetoun (Kilcoy)
This beautiful home still remains in the middle of the business centre in Kilcoy.
Jeremiah & Margaret built a home ( Monte Cassino) on their property just on the eastern outskirts of Kilcoy in 1917.
The family then moved out into this Homestead.

Jeremiah owned several large properties around the local areas.

Damien attended Kilcoy State School.To complete his higher education he went to St.Josephs College at Nudgee. He finished his studies in 1922..and then went to work the properties with his father and brothers.

He met Clare Isobel Lane. Daughter of William & Jane Lane of Ipswich.
Clare was born in 1907.
She attended the Ipswich Girls Grammer School and later went on to study as a Registered Nurse at Ipswich General Hospital.

In 1931 Damien & Clare married at Ipswich.
They moved into the Kennedy home "Monte Cassino "
They had 5 children- Kathleen, Barbara, Benedict, Ian & Michael.

Damien served as a Councillor on the Kilcoy Shire Council up until 1936.

It was after this in the pre war years - that Damien set about organising local young horseman to form the Kilcoy Troop of the Australian Light Horse Squadron (2/14th Mounted Infantry)
In 1937 - with the threat of imminent war, Damien led this troop for the next four year.
In 1941 he then joined the 1st Armoured Division A.I.F and attended Officer's School at Puckapunyal, Victoria.
Damien was appointed as Staff Officer to Head Quarters Northern Command with rank of Captain.
He was promoted to rank of Major Damien Patrick Kennedy in 1942.

Then from July 1943 to November 1945
Damien QX19110 - was involved with active service in the Torres Strait area, Thursday Island, Merauke, Dutch New Guinea.

Damien's sister Ellen Kennedy also joined the Australian Forces.
During WWII Ellen was a Deputy Commandent, Transport Unit. Navy.

Damien was discharged in November 1945.
He returned home to Kilcoy to his family and to his farm and cattle. He promoted and developed the beef industry in Kilcoy and its surrounding area.

In 1953 - Damien founded the Kilcoy Pastoral Company.
This abattoir and meat works created a place of employment for many locals.
It also gave the graziers from the Kilcoy District a place to send their cattle rather than having to send then elsewhere.
Local butchers would sell the Kilcoy meats within their Butcher Shops.

In the 1975 New Year Honour List, Damien Kennedy was appointed a Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, (M.B.E).

Clare went about her home duties as well as fundraising for various organisations.
Each year Clare and Damien would hold a fund raising ball in Kilcoy , with all proceeds going to the Legacy Group.

To raise further funds Damien would supply the use of his cattle at local campdrafts on his terms that half of the proceeds went to the Legacy group.

Clare donated land in Row Street for the use of a park.
It was to be known as the Clare Kennedy Park.
Sadly no signage has ever been erected.
The park is commonly known just as the Ambulance Park as it is situated behind the Kilcoy Ambulance Station.

Damien died in 1976 and Clare in 1977.
Their grave is in Section 15 of the Kilcoy Cemetery.

Information supplied by the Kennedy Family, Kilcoy District Historical Society and Kilcoy RSL.