We grew up together in Yarraville

My name is Trevor Dunen and I live in Geraldton West Australia. Everybody has a close childhood friend whom they cherish and will never forget. My mate was Peter Andrew McNay. When my father died in June 1968 I lived in Bacchus Marsh. I was seven years old. My mother moved to 74 Francis Street, Yarraville with my two brothers Martin and Ashley Dunen and myself to try and escape the memory of my father’s death.

Yarraville Primary School in Francis Street, 1973- Grade Six.

Peter McNay, back row, second from the end, Darren Aitken at very end and the author of this story, back row, fifth from the left, Craig Hunter, front row far left, Tracy McHale, second row, third from left, Ronice Corbett, second row fourth from right, Steven Elso, front row, second from right. Mr Ross was the teacher.

We went to school across the road, Yarraville State School and this is where I met Peter McNay. Peter was not particularly tall but he was slim. He had blonde hair cut in a bowl cut and freckles. I was drawn to him for some reason. It was found in later years that we both had bi-polar disorder, and I believe this was the attraction. Peter loved to fight and he loved to get into trouble, he was always a risk taker and at an early age he took up smoking.

We did heaps of things together along with our other close mates Darren Aitken, Craig Hunter and Stephen Elso. We got into all sorts of strife and mischief together. We threw rocks at cars, we wandered the streets at night stealing petrol caps off cars and throwing fire crackers at innocent old men. Peter was the first friend that I had a sleepover with, when you are kids that is a big deal. I used to go to Peter’s house and we would have seance,s over at Craig Hunter’s house. I got to know Peter’s brother’s Ian, Laurie and Graham.


We would sit in his room and listen to his older brother’s records. I was introduced to Ossi Bissa and Santana long before they were fashionable. I kissed my first girl when I was with Peter. He use to “go” with a girl named Tracy McHale and she had a fat friend named Jennifer, we went to a friends house one day at lunch time during school hours and we each kissed the girl we were with, it was a real big deal. God I was fumbling and nervous, I kissed the girl once and ran like hell. Peter loved snakes and lizards and he had a collection of them in cages in the back yard.
(Yarraville State School- right)

He had an old dog named Barney whom Peter thought was the best dog that ever walked the earth Peter also loved his dad dearly, Ken was his name and he died fairly early on aged around 60 or even younger. He was an alcoholic and used to sit in front of the TV and listen to the horse races as he was a chronic gambler. Peter and I used to go on trips with his family to the St. Moritz Ice skating rink as well as Cobbledick’s Ford. His Mum’s name was Gwen and she was a lovely caring lady.

She would cook me breakfast when I stayed at Pete’s and was good friends with my mum. Peter and I went through state school together and then we both went to Footscray High School, I left after form one and went back to Bacchus Marsh. A few times Peter came up to Bacchus Marsh looking for me but I was not at home and eventually I lost contact with him. Peter did not have a good time after school. He unfortunately became a heroin addict and was doing armed robberies. I went around to his house in Castlemaine Street Yarraville when I was about twenty and caught up with Pete.

He was not fairing well. He was drunk and was hooning up and down the street like a maniac in an old brown unregistered EH Holden and he had no licence, he was also being very abusive to his Mum who had re-married. Peter resented this and his step father. He was in trouble with the police and did a lot of jail over the years. Many years passed and when I was about 48, I looked Pete up. He was living in Braybrook in a little flat and was on the bones of his arse, he looked old and weathered and had lead a violent and unhappy life.

We went down the pub and had a beer and he told me that his life had not been good. We shook hands and agreed to catch up again one day. About a year later I saw on the internet that Peter’s older brother Laurie had died. I rang Pete and he was in total despair, it turned out his brother Laurie had gassed himself in his car near Westgate Bridge. Pete asked if he could come and stay with me, he wanted me to pay his airfare to and from Geraldton but I could not afford it.

He was very sad and I got the impression he needed help. I never heard from Peter again and then by doing a Google search one day while wondering if he was on Facebook. I learned that Peter had hung himself on July 1st 2012. I was stunned. I rang his Mum, Gwendoline and had a good talk to her, I cried a lot.

She told me that Peter was very violent and she had to get a restraining order against him. She said he had attempted suicide many times but had failed. This time he didn’t fail. I will never forget you Pete, I have so many memories of you and I and the great times we had as kids, you were a good mate and wherever you are I hope you have found peace my old and loyal friend.

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Postscript: Peter's mother, Gwendoline Francis McNay died aged 95 on 27/3/13. Brother Laurie Alan McNay died on 12/4/11, aged 54. Ian Norman McNay, (born 2/8/1954), another brother, died on 31/12/22. Keith McNay was the boys dad, he died long ago, I have no details, on one son is left and that is Graham.