Birthday bash: Kevin Andrews, front and centre flanked by his daughter Tracey and son Dean (and Dean’s wife Jacqui), celebrated his 90th birthday at Kyabram Club with six of his grandchildren - Samara, Sari, Ned, Riley, Darcy and Kai. Also pictured are Katrina (Kai’s partner) and Hannah (Darcy’s partner). Kevin’s sister Margaret and brother Bruce were also at the party.
A former Kyabram Secondary School student who spent six years in a mentoring program with Kevin Andrews and three men who shared the title of Town of Kyabram Mayor with the life-long Kyabramite were special guests at his 90th birthday celebration at Kyabram Club recently.
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Paul Espagne was a Year 7 student at the school when the Old Mates program first started.
He loved the concept so much that he made a case to remain involved after finishing Year 10, originally the cut-off for students.
“I ended up spending six years in the Old Mates program and it was great for me,” he said.
Kevin had a significant impact on the then teenager, who has spent the past 13 years in the Royal Australian Navy and is now based on the HMAS Sydney.
His parents, Gary and Carolyn, still live in the area, while siblings Cameron and Christopher have also remained in the region.
He received special permission to take leave and attend the celebration.
Mayors in the moment: Kevin Andrews was Mayor of the Town of Kyabram in the mid-1970s. He has remained close with three other local government leaders, all who wore the Mayoral robes - John Neale (1992-92), Frank Finlay (early 1980s) and Chris Salter (1983).
Three men who have shared the local government leadership role that thrust Kevin into the spotlight in the mid-1970s were also guests.
Kevin was mayor during the centenary celebrations of the town, while John Neale was mayor during a state Tidy Towns victory.
Chris Salter and Frank Findlay, two highly respected businessmen, also served as mayors at different times in the 1980s.
Old Mates: Paul Espagne spent six years as part of the Old Mates program with Kyabram Secondary College. He and Kevin became close friends during the mentoring program and Paul made the trip from Sydney for the party.
Six of Kevin’s eight grandchildren, along with children Tracey and Dean, were on hand to celebrate.
Kevin made a speech that recognised his involvement with the “Mongrels”, a group of men who have remained friends for many years in Kyabram.
Service award: Kevin Andrews at Government House in Melbourne recently, with children Tracey and Mark, after he received his 50-year recognition from the Victorian Association for Honorary Justices.
He also received a surprise when former Free Press boss Ian Purdey arrived with a giant Richmond flag to add some flavour to the event.
The celebrations continued for Kevin later in the week when he was recognised at Government House in Melbourne by the Victorian Governor Professor Margaret Gardner.
He was one of four recipients of a 50-year long service award from the Association of Honorary Justices, of which the Governor is the patron.
Special guests: Fred Wooller, former Kyabram Free Press chief Ian Purdey and John Neale at the Kyabram Club birthday celebration.
