By Alva “Bobbie” Davies

Leslie Raymond (“Mick”) Cowen was born on 1st May 1923 at 30 Rokeby St., Collingwood.
 
He started school at the age of four and a half to make up enough students to warrant the services of an extra teacher. The Cowen family was living at the small town of Tynong by this time. and Mick joined the Athletes’ Club with his brothers.  Had to do the usual chores that all country kids had to do.   One thing he remembers is getting up very early to gather mushrooms for Mum to layer in boxes to be sent up to the Melbourne markets on the first train.

Mick went to Tynong school until 16/12/34 then Macedon where he won a scholarship that paid his fees at Prahran Technical School for two years.  Mick also won a scholarship whilst at Macedon school that paid for two years at Technical school in the city. He stayed with his Aunt Bigsy Crowle in Lewisham St Prahran.
 
First job was with a watchmaker, but later apprentice with Bedgood in the boot trade.
 
In 1938 he was in the Militia with brother Doug. A year or so later he was sent to Port Moresby to fight the Japanese.   It was here that he met up with Doug whose division was brought home from the Middle East to safeguard Australia. He served in the army in the Second world war, being posted to New Guinea. Service no. V36091 Enlisted 3/7/1940 at Seymour. Date of Discharge 25/6/1946 in 36th Aust. Inf. Battalion. Corporal.
 
After the war he was in the Building trade.
 
He married Nell Elizabeth Nevein on 29/12/48 at Ivanhoe. They had two children.  ‘’

Lesley Anne Cowen (b////)
Paul Cowen (b/////)
 
Mick was about 6ft. with black hair and hazel eyes. He took after his father
 
A good worker, who promised his mother that he would\build her a new house after he finished his own.   Mick took his family overland for an adventurous holiday to England.  Making friends with a young girl who was studying English Mick carried on a correspondence with this Bulgarian family for many years, sending over English language books that the girl could not get locally at the time.

He had several overseas trips – one with his sister Bob and her husband, Bill.

His trade was in the building industry, and he built his own house and also a new house for his mother and father at Noble Park. He also was a great help when Alva and Bill Davies were building their house at Aspendale. He also helped Daphne Attwood to build hers. Mick was a godsend in helping his sister build her house at Aspendale.
 
Nell and Mick built a new house at Yellingbo in later years and it was there that he died in 2014 as a result of from complications from cancer.