Benjamin Ernest MCLEAN b. 18 Nov 1925 Strathalbyn SA d. 9 Feb 2009 Albany WA: Christina and Donald McLEAN and their descendants

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Christina and Donald McLEAN from Scotland 1837

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1925 - 2009 (83 years)

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Name	Benjamin Ernest MCLEAN [1]
Nickname	Ben
Born	18 Nov 1925	Strathalbyn SA [1]
Gender	Male
Biography Notes	18 Nov 1938	Adelaide SA
	Benjamin (my Dad) on his 13th birthday was playing with a compass. Flicking the end of a piece of timber on a bench top. The compass flicked an "astounding height" and in an instant he looked up only for it to pierce his right eye. This date of his birthday: the childrens hospital "would not" take him because he was no longer a "child" and the adult hospital also declined. I never did ask where he was admitted. But he lost 85% vision and was refused on health grounds to serve in the Military during the WWII. Source-Lorna Joan McLean as told by Mum-Joan Natalie McLean(Smith)
Occupation	1943	Angas Plains SA [2]
	FOR SALE. Pocket money after the depression years selling kangaroo dogs to the public. Source Trove Newspapers-FOR SALE
Biography Notes	1951	Angas Plains SA
	3 Sep 2017:Mum told me a story from 1951 when she met Dad. He'd lots of strange untreated large bumps on back of his hands for some years prior to them meeting in 1951.That year he was told an old wives tale."To count every bump and collect that number of stones and put those stones into a brown paper bag. Then put them in a place someone else could find the bag and he must forget them and they transferred to someone else. The bumps were gone in a couple of days.Not believable really. But it happened to Lorna also about 1967. A tomboy I collected frogs and reptiles for weekend fun and often snuck them inside to swim in the family bathtub! I had a large number of warts.(treated but they returned).Dad told me to do the same thing (I didnt know hed done it til today when mum shared)!And yes the warts were gone inside two weeks and never got another wart. Not believable. No explanation. I just did it blind faith in my Dad, didnt questioned it. True story I was pretty surprised mum decribing a carbon version of it to me out of the blue one day to do with Cynthia. Thats another story.
Marriage/Wedding	28 Sep 1951	Angas Plains SA
	DADS NOTE IN family bible-:-Engaged on 28 Sept 1951 to think if we were doing the right thing.l In a small 2 seater front seat the atmospher was boiling at the time. We too 5 months to love and wonder if we were doing the right . The air in that old 2 seater in the front of the old Buick was just electric and smelly at times---explains fumes in his biography hELL TO GLORY...
Biography Notes	1961	Belvidere SA
	P50 "Belvidere" publication by Lance C Wakefield. Ben McLean was an office bearer as the Secretary to the Belvidere Agricultural Bureau in 1961.
Biography Notes	1 Jan 2001	Kalgoorlie WA [1, 3]
	358pp Autobiography; Hell to Glory An adventurers experiential record of lifeweb and the challenges to creating his life's masterpieces. Synopsis Molested and abused as a child raised on a dairy farm. Married, roamed Australia with a wife and 5 small children, escaped to WA and settled on a virgin farming block, exploring various pursuits and travelled widely. He found glory in buiding "DUN MOOVIN" from the natural stones illustrated on the covers of this publication, whilst writing over a decade.
	See the biographies of Benjamin Ernest McLean and Joan Natalie Smith - originally published in 1995. This can be viewed, and downloaded from the Histories section on the left hand list on the home page - reference 1995 - 5082.
Biography Notes	18 Nov 2001	Albany WA
	Eldest Daughter gave Dad his much loved diary for 2002. Inside the cover it read; "To my father, hope you have a very happy 77th birthday, enjoy 2002, best wishes from Jennifer, Christine and Moey xxx TO WHICH HE UNDERSCORED IN HIS PEN-I am rebelling Im getting younger from now on this years birthday 2001 I am going to be 75years old with his signature.....gorgeous
Residence	9 Feb 2009	Albany WA [4]
	Last residence: Frenchmans Bay after Oyster harbour both in Albany, and previously Hopetoun and Jingamarra Station in outback and Jerdacuttup Esperance, Perth, Maplemore were the main locations.
Died	9 Feb 2009	Albany WA
Obituary	18 Jan 2010	Strathalbyn SA
	Benjamin asked his wife to spread his ashes to some 50 places around Australia that were meaningful sites to both of them. Joan McLean has been asked to list the sites where she took the ashes to. PLAQUES & ASHES LOCATED AT Hopetoun, Albany, Strathalbyn ASHES SCATTERED AT Jerdacuttup, Hopetoun(&plaque) Ravensthorpe, Strathalbyn (&plaque) Albany (&plaque) others if she remembers....
Cremated	18 Jan 2010	Strathalbyn SA [5]
	Benjamin asked his wife to spread his ashes to some 50 places that were meaningful sites to both of them and their lives. Joan McLean has been asked to list the sites where she took the ashes to. PLAQUES LOCATED AT Hopetoun, Albany, Strathalbyn among several others. ASHES SCATTERED AT Jerdacuttup,others TBA
Person ID	I-3840	Christina and Donald McLean \| John McLean's descendants
Last Modified	10 Mar 2021

Father	Edwin James 'Ted' b1871 MCLEAN, b. 16 Oct 1871, Angas Plains SA , d. 23 Aug 1950, Strathalbyn SA (Age 78 years)
Relationship	-1261
Mother	Olivia Mary (Queenie) PARKER, b. 23 May 1885, Collingwood Vic , d. 2 Aug 1955, Strathalbyn SA (Age 70 years)
Relationship	-1261
Married	26 Jul 1919	Melbourne Vic [6]
	"McLean family bible was originally given by Mary Stacey to Mrs Edwin James McLean (Adelaide Hull-"Addie")...(currently in custodianship of Edwin James McLean [Albany WA] in 2016) are copies of several pages of (unknown which newspaper-clippings). We know by family memories [FM] of Joan Natalie McLean that first Addie then Queenie compiled most of the following. One such clipping reads:MARRIAGE: MCLEAN-PARKER-On Saturday, 26th July 1919 at the Presbyterian church, Northcote,Victoria, by the Rev. W. R. Rock., Edwin James McLean, Angas Plains, SA to Olivia Mary (Queenie), elder dau of Mr and Mrs B E Parker, Waterloo Road, Angas Plains, "Waterloo",SA 1944: MCLEAN-PARKER Mr and Mrs E J Mclean Maplemore Angas Plains SA annoince the 25th wedding anniversary, solemnised on July26, 1919 at Northcote, Victoria, Presbytarian Church, by Rev Robert W Rock. Lastly:Mr B E Parker who died at Strathalbyn recently at the age of 83 years, after a short illness, was for many years an esteemed worker in the firm of Trodels, printers, Melbourne (work reference in all media). After retiring from the firm, he and his wife lived at Murray Bridge SA for several years with his dau, Mrs H Fordham. After her death, Mr and Mrs Parker made their home with their only remaining child Mrs E J Mclean of Angas Plains. Mrs Parker predeceased her husband in 1940. In this younger days Mr Parker was a tenor singer in the Scots Church choir Melbourne. He often also accompanied his dau Olivia Mary (queenie) Parker for community entertainment.
Occupation	Musician and music teacher
	Associate of the London College of Music
Family ID	F-1261	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Joan Natalie SMITH, b. 28 Sep 1931, Nailsworth SA , d. 26 Nov 2022, Albany WA (Age 91 years)

Married 14 Feb 1952 Strathalbyn SA

Children

	1. EJ#b M
	2. JM M
	3. Lorna Joan # MCLEAN, Justice of Peace WA 8398, b. 23 Oct 1955, Strathalbyn SA []
	4. N# M
	5. CF# M

Last Modified 22 Oct 2017 14:37:20

Family ID F-1271 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Photos » Slide Show		0342 - Joan (nee Smith) & Ben McLean.jpg
		Ben McLean at BEJOED Jerdacuttup WA on Queenie C1970 source ben mclean 2016.jpg
		They liked to call themselves the Strath Gang. They had regular competitive meets.
		MCLEAN:Alf and Jack eldest brothers of Benjamin b1925 to Olivia Mclean nee Parker and Edwin James McLean
		1930's tricycle, Benjamin McLean playing under pepper trees with Spot the Dog early 1930's
		Melissa Paterson nee Stevenson with grandparents, Ben and Joan Mclean nee Smith
		1943 18yoa Benjamin McLean at Maplemore Angus Plains SA
		McLeans Bush camp in a caravan at BEJOED in Jerdacuttup 1965-66
		Published 2002 "To Hell and Back"+50th Anniversary Benjamin Ernest McLean and dau. Lorna McLean
		Scotland Crockery 1830's.Loaned to Harold Stowe who died not recording the McLean Loan.
		First semi-circular dairy in Angas Plains 1950's 1950's Homemade Semi-Circular Dairy
		McLean's 1958 homebuilt caravan on truck
		Arrival Jingemarra Station Yalgoo 1 Jan 1979. Inimitable style of Ben McLean. Stopped by Police in Mullewa on News Years Eve because of a camp fire.
		Mother of Bride-Gladys Smith nee Stoyel, Florence McLean-flossie, Groom-Ben McLean, Bride-Joan Smith, sister of bride-Florence May Whaley-nee Smith, Sydney Whaley-groomsman Feb1952 Strathalbyn St Andrews Presbytarian Church
		Joan and Ben lining a tractor tyre with a tyre portion to reduce punctures. Having a break since Joan has a bump on her head from that 20kg crowbar. At BEJOED Farm, Jerdacuttup WA. 1965
		AVOIDED DEATH BY CARBON MONOXIDE? 1955 at Maplemore, Angas Plains SA Joan McLean nee Smith was able to reach down into the newly constructed well as Benjamin Ernest McLean was staggering to climb the ladder to fresh air after realising fumes of welding machine almost overtook him.
		1964Dec-1st NULLABOR TRIP TO WA. Mum taking photo, Dad, Edwin Jenny Lorna Natalie (Cynthia 22moa) stayed with Aunty Lola McLean-flew Perth Ansett in Jan 1965.
		1961 Queensland HANDPICKING COTTON days. L to R Joan nee Smith, Benjamin McLean in rear, Jenny, Edwin, Natalie, Lorna. Cynthia not born til 1963.
		1939 LOLLY TIN for birthday in Royal Adelaide Hospital during his birthday on Christmas Day
		1940's Buick Truck nearly asphyxiated Edwin James lying near hole in the floor over engine on a long trip with fumes making him flaccid and pale on arrival. Stripped and removed from vehicle.
		1950's Ben McLean at Maplemore Angas Plains MILKING MORNING
		1953 FIRST TRUCK leaked gas and gassed Edwin on a trip. Almost fatal. On arrival home from shopping with 9month old first baby, Benjamin asked how did baby travel? Joan said slept all way there and back. Benjamin immediately grabbed infant and stripped him bare in the wind to get him to breathe fresh air. The vehicle he knew was leaking carbon monixide gas into the cabin from a rotting floor board. But Joan would not have noticed with her window open. The baby was resting/sleeping on the floor
		Lorna escaping Dad after a bath 1961 Qld camping 2016-02-07
		three generations fo mcleans and parkers. Cricket and Picnic at Victor Harbour 1930's. from L Queenie, Benjamin Ernest McLean, Jack Mclean, Alfred Parker McLean , second row from L is Edwin James Mclean, unknown female, unknown female, brother of Mary Clarke-Reid Parker, 3rd row from L sister Mary Clarke-Reid Parker, and Benjamin Ernest Parker. 1932 CRICKET gathering of Parkers and McLeans and Reids (Bob labelled unknown-but in fact is brother to Mary Clarke PARKER nee Reid)
		1940 Hospital stay tin of lollies in Lornas custody with mixed Dads childhood wrappers and Lornas childhood wrappers.

Documents » Slide Show		1940 CERTIF SCHOOL Milang award certificate for Benjamin ernest Mclean to be promoted to Strathalbyn High School
		Certificate - Violin Grade 5 1948 Benjamin McLean in 2016
		NEWSPAPER 1940-BIRTHDAY GREETINGS are extended to the undermentioned member of the Childrens Hospital Birthday League.....Ben McLean of Angas Plains 14yoa. 18 Nov 1940 Page 8 The Advertiser.
		IMG_3936.JPG This Gaelic bible sat atop Queenies piano at Maplemore all my memories except for a life event where it was written in an left again.
		NEWSPAPER 1944 DEATH ADELAIDE ADVERTISER-Benjamin Ernest Parker in Adelaide SA 23Jun1944
		CERT BAPTISED Jennifer Mary McLean 10 Oct 1954 at St Andrews Presbyterian Church Strathalbyn SA
		CERT SCHOOL 1940 Benjamin Ernest Mclean

Headstones

HS Grandparents of Benjamin Ernest McLean, and brothers. Father of Olivia Mary (Queenie) Parker-:-Benjamin Ernest Parker, wife Mary Clarke nee Reid, and her brother Robert Reid

STORIES

5081 - Benjamin Ernest McLean & Joan Natalie Smith
John's line - biography as published in the BRB in 1995

Sources

[S-3] PUBLICATION BRB 'Donald & Christina McLean & Their Descendants', 1995 copies available, Copies of the BRB available Strathalbyn National Trust Museum & Library, several libraries around Australia including State Library SA, and Western Australian Genealogical Society Bayswater WA Request assistance for locating a copy through 'Contact us' on this website. .
[S-203] NEWSPAPER TROVE Southern Argus 1837-1972.
[A-UTOBIOGRAPHY HELL TO] (Reliability: 3), 2001.
ISBN 0-9579900-0-6
DEWEY NUMBER 920.009941
Copyright 2001 by Ben E McLean
[S-13] REGISTER Burials & Cremations - Alexandrina Council SA, Family History Group at Library, 54, 18 May 2016 source lorna mclean.
Dad passed away after 6 days in hospital. Cremated following week. Date to be confirmed. Ashes scattered to all the places he loved around Australia by Mum; Joan Natalie McLean (nee Smith)
[S-13] REGISTER Burials & Cremations - Alexandrina Council SA, Family History Group at Library, 54, 18/05/2016 source ljm burial register.
Niche 6 Strathalbyn Columbarium SA extracted from AC Burial Register

Also a plaque in Albany WA where he was in fact cremated in Albany WA (source his daughter; Lorna McLean18.5.2016
Dad passed away after 6 days in hospital. Cremated following week in Albany. Date to be confirmed. Ashes scattered to all the places he loved around Australia by Mum; Joan Natalie McLean (nee Smith)
Including on 18.1.2010 in Strathalbyn Columbarium SA
[S-11] Birth record attached to this profile.