Legatee Wayne McNee was appointed Chairman of the Board of Legacy Australia in November 2023 having completed a two-year term as Vice-Chairman.
Wayne joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Junior Recruit on the 7 October 1967 from Bundaberg Queensland. After completing 12 months training at HMAS Leeuwin, he was posted to HMAS Albatross where he completed trade training as a Naval Aircraft Mechanic Airframes and Engines (NAMAE) He was then posted to Helicopter training and then HS 725 Sqdn.
After completion of Wessex training, he was posted to HS 817 Sqdn and went to sea on HMAS Melbourne for trips to SE Asia and Japan. In 1974 he completed Seaking conversion and served on Seaking Squadrons for the rest of his naval career. He served 17 years with the navy and in 1984 transferred to the Australian Army.
Following a special Induction Course held at the Infantry Centre, he was posted to RAAOC and 32 Supply Battalion. Subsequently, he was posted to 2 Field Supply Battalion and finally to HQ Logistic Command. In October 1993, he retired after 10 years with the Royal Australian Army. This completed 27 years’ service in the Australian Defence Force.
Wayne returned to Bundaberg where he was enticed into the local RSL Club and served as Secretary of the Sub-branch from 1994 to 1999. In 1994, he was invited to join as a Legatee of Bundaberg Legacy. After a short time, he was elected Honorary Secretary and held that position for several years. He has also served as Treasurer and President of Bundaberg Legacy.
He is the Legacy Australia representative on the Stakeholder Reference Group to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. He has also served as a company director and chairman of the Blue Water Sports and as a director of the Bargara Golf Club.
To be closer to family, Wayne relocated to Melbourne at the end of 2022, and subsequently transferred to Melbourne Legacy.
When he is not carrying out his duties as a Legatee, Wayne enjoys golf and sailing. He is married to Pamela, and they have 5 children and 9 grandchildren.
