Image: Ken Lewsey walking the Spanish Camino
Ken, Kenny, Kenneth - as he is known to family, friends and professional colleagues. Ken, now aged 62, lives in his family home in Cottesloe where he is cared for by his wife, Linda and a wonderful team of support workers.
He was diagnosed with Dysexecutive-type Alzheimer’s Disease in 2018.
Ken and Linda have 2 young adult sons, Jack and Tom who live in Perth and have recently started their professional careers whilst both remaining very involved with caring for their dad. Born on a farm in Mt Barker to his father, Roy, a ‘10-pound Pom’ turned shearer and mother, Norma, a primary school teacher. Ken’s beginnings were humble and hard working.
His secondary schooling was in Gosnells followed by tertiary education at Curtin University. His bright intellect and drive to achieve led him to an internship with BHP (the start of his career). Ken has been CEO of a number of large worldwide companies and became well-travelled, visiting over 50 countries as part of his career. There was never a destination he didn’t enjoy!
He retired following difficulties with his thinking skills at work and home prior to receiving his diagnosis. In his professional life, Ken held a number of very senior executive positions, remains well respected by his peers, a very confident man.
He is a gregarious man who enjoys collecting wine, cooking and eating great food, watching all sports but especially AFL and Formula 1 racing. He truly embraced the joie de vivre!
Drawing came to him during the early to mid-stages of his illness, as much an interest as it is a means to express his inner experiences of the disease - something that words and language could not describe.
Today, Ken is living with the end stages of the disease, severely disabled in all aspects of being. Not withstanding his inability to communicate, he was thrilled to hear his artwork is being exhibited and seen by others!
These days he enjoys his creature comforts such as sleeping in, watching movies, listening to music and eating good food!
