Kevin Weldon

Kevin Ernest Weldon AM (born 1933) is an Australian book publisher, businessman, aviator and philanthropist.

In the field of science and education he is a founder of Earthwatch Australia, a voluntary organisation supporting scientific research expeditions as well as promoting Indigenous education through the establishment of Gwinganna, located on the Gold Coast hinterland, as a study centre. He has served on variety of committees and boards, including Powerhouse Museum (Sydney) and the Institute of Aboriginal Studies (Canberra). He is the founding president of World Lifesaving organisation and is currently an active member of the President's Board of National Council of Surf Lifesaving Association of Australia.

On 10 June 1994, Weldon was honoured as a member of the Order of Australia for his philanthropy, contribution to water safety as president of World Life Saving, and service to the publishing industry.

Weldon is married with three children.

Weldon was born in 1933 in the small town of Ingham, Queensland, the youngest of five children. His father, Vivian, was the local Ford dealer. At the outbreak of World War II, the family relocated to Brisbane, where he spent many days as a child scouring the shores of the Brisbane River.

At age 15, he joined the Pacific Surf Club as a Cadet, which would cement his interest in the surf lifesaving movement.

Weldon studied at the Brisbane Grammar School but in 1949, when his mother died suddenly, he left school early. He later enrolled in college two nights a week, where he learnt his first trade of colour etching.

Weldon began his career at Brisbane's Truth newspaper as a half-tone colour etcher in the process engraving department. It was there he was taught by his first boss, Horrie Hogarth, two guiding principles, "never compromise on quality; and, allow workers now and then to spend time with the boss." Despite the brevity of his tenure at Truth, Hogarth had an indelible impact on Weldon during these formative years.

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