Thomas Wallis Kelynack (1868 – 16 November 1936) was a leading Melbourne journalist/police roundsman in the early 20th century, especially noted for his extensive, authoritative, and well-regarded sports journalism in The Herald of Melbourne especially in relation to Australian rules football and cricket published under the nom de guerre of "Kickero"."Kickero's" Service to Football, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 19 August 1927), p.3.
Family The son of Charles Kelynack (1825-1894),Death of Mr. Charles Kelynack, The Bendigo Advertiser, (Friday, 12 October 1894), p.2. and Jane Kelynack (1830-1890), née Wallis,Sudden Death at Long Gully, The Bendigo Advertiser, (Monday, 15 December 1890), p.2. Thomas Wallis Kelynack was born at Long Gully, Bendigo, Victoria, in 1868.
He married Catherine Mary Smith (1864-1928) in 1891; they had five children.Deaths: Kelynack, The Argus, (Saturday, 22 September 1928), p.13.
Journalist He joined The Herald in 1889 following his earlier press experience in Bendigo and Broken Hill and he retired from The Herald, and from journalism, in 1930."Kickero" Retires: Famous Football Journalist, The (Adelaide) News, (Saturday, 11 October 1930), p.2."Kickero" Retires: League move for Presentation, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Saturday, 11 October 1930), p.1."Kickero" Retires: League's Tribute to Herald Writer, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 11 October 1930), p.2."Kickero" Retires, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 18 October 1930), p.65.
Death He died at his residence at Moreland, Victoria, on 16 November 1936.Deaths: Kelynack, The Argus, (Tuesday, 17 November 1936), p.1.Obituary: Mr. T.W. Kelynack, The Argus, (Tuesday, 17 November 1936), p.10.Versatile Writer: "Kickero" Dies, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Tuesday, 17 November 1936), p.18.Burial of Mr. T. W. Kelynack: Sportsmen's Tribute, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Wednesday, 18 November 1936), p.3.
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References Photograph of T.W. Kelynack reporting his final football match: the 1930 Grand Final, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Registration No.1992.2558.2, collection of the Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum. Educational: Brunswick College: Pupils' Success, The Brunswick and Coburg Star, (Friday, 13 March 1914), p.1. Brunswick College Student's Promotion, The Brunswick and Coburg Leader, (Friday, 5 October 1917), p.2. Military Cross Won, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 10 November 1917), p.23.