McCELLAND, Kenneth Joseph

Family Name:

McLelland

Given Names:

Kenneth Joseph

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

Unknown, possibly1951

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age/ Age Range:

Early 20s

Location:

VIC, Bendigo

Occupation:

Unknown

Primary Motivation:

Draft Resister

Reason for Court:

Appearance Refusal to obey a call-up notice

Court Name and Location:

Unknown, Bendigo

Court Hearing Date:

7 February 1971

Court Outcome:

Jailed 18 months

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Kenneth McLelland was from Bendigo in Victoria. He refused to obey a call-up notice received 21 January 1971. He probably had a history of non-compliance with the National Service Act prior to this date. Ken was arrested on 7 February 1972 while teaching school in Hawksdale in Victoria. He was convicted in a Bendigo court and sentenced to the mandatory 18 months jail. He was subsequently released from jail pending an appeal. On 18 April 1972 he appeared in court telling the court he believed that conscription would be used in the future for offensive purposes against countries like Nuigini. His appeal was dismissed, and he resumed his 18 month jail sentence. He had great support in Hawksdale. The day the police came for him the townspeople refused to allow the police to make phone calls 0n private phones, eat in the café or get petrol from the local garage. Ken was released by the newly elected Whitlam Labor Government in early December 1972.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, September/ December 1971, p.15.

Tharunka, 3 October 1972, p.7.