# Christine Frances "Teena" Whillas (b. 1947) Known as **Teena McLean** after her marriage to John. Fourth child of [Dick](/people/richard-charles-whillas-b1920) and [Cath Whillas](/people/catherine-mcleod-whillas-b1921). Her 2026 oral-history interview records her childhood across South Australia and Victoria, her travels, marriage, and later newsagency business in Alstonville. ## Key facts - **Born:** 28 Mar 1947, Maylands, [Adelaide](/places/adelaide-south-australia) (birth certificate held; home address 15 Salter St, Kensington) - **Parents:** [Dick Whillas](/people/richard-charles-whillas-b1920) · [Cath McLeod](/people/catherine-mcleod-whillas-b1921) - **Husband:** John McLean - **Married:** 28 Sep 1968, Presbyterian Church, [Shepparton](/places/shepparton-victoria) (see [marriage event](/events/marriage-teena-whillas-to-john-mclean-1968)) ## High-level life timeline - **28 Mar 1947 — born in Maylands, Adelaide.** Teena grew up with her parents and siblings. Her interview's wording for the birth date is unclear; see [open question](/open-questions#teena-birth-residence-and-chronology-questions).[^1] - **Early childhood — [Bray/Robe](/places/bray-robe-south-australia).** The family lived in a tent while Dick built their home, and Teena began school in Robe. She recalled: “I was about four and a half ... I started school in Robe.” — [interview with Teena](/documents/interview-teena-mclean-2026). - **Childhood — [Cobden](/places/cobden-victoria) and Tandarook.** Teena remembered the family moving to Cobden, where she attended [Tandarook South State School](/places/tandarook-south-victoria), and described her father wanting to farm: “Dad wanted to be a farmer.” The formal family history places the dairy farm at [South Purrumbete](/places/south-purrumbete-victoria); the relationship between these place names and the move dates needs clarification.[^2] - **Adolescence — [Invergordon](/places/invergordon-victoria), near Numurkah.** Her parents ran the local post office/newsagency. Teena learned telephone and counter work from her mother, then travelled to Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines at about 17½. She recalled: “I travelled to Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.” The ship is transcribed with two different names in the interview.[^3] - **28 Sep 1968 — married John McLean** at the Presbyterian Church in [Shepparton](/places/shepparton-victoria): “We got married in September, 28th of September, 1968. In Shepparton, the Presbyterian Church.” — [marriage event](/events/marriage-teena-whillas-to-john-mclean-1968). - **Later — [Alstonville](/places/alstonville-new-south-wales).** Teena and John ran a newsagency there for about 25 years. She recalled, “I fell in love with Alstonville,” and said, “Until 2004, after 25 years, we sold.” The exact opening year is not established; the interview documents the sale in 2004 and does not date the move precisely. See the [2000s timeline](/timeline/2000s). [^1]: The interview transcript renders the birth phrase as “Marylands in Adelaide, 1928 to the 3rd, 1947.” Teena's birth certificate and the existing family chronology record Maylands and 28 March 1947. Confirm the audio wording; see [open questions](/open-questions#teena-birth-residence-and-chronology-questions). [^2]: The interview calls the childhood destination “Cobden” and names Tandarook South School, while existing family-history pages describe the dairy farm as South Purrumbete. These may refer to the district and the farm respectively, but the sequence/location is not settled; see [open questions](/open-questions#teena-birth-residence-and-chronology-questions). [^3]: The trip is described in the transcript as aboard the “Aramek” and elsewhere the “Aramac.” The vessel name needs checking against the audio or other records; see [open questions](/open-questions#teena-birth-residence-and-chronology-questions). ## Family - **Parents:** [Dick](/people/richard-charles-whillas-b1920) · [Cath](/people/catherine-mcleod-whillas-b1921) - **Husband:** John McLean - **Siblings:** see [Dick's page](/people/richard-charles-whillas-b1920) for all 14; the interview specifically recalls [Robert](/people/robert-alexander-whillas-b1944), [Richard](/people/richard-johnstone-whillas-b1945), [Andrew](/people/andrew-john-whillas-b1949), and [Janet](/people/janet-barbara-whillas-b1951). - **Aunt:** [Frances Louise "Fran" Whillas](/people/frances-louise-whillas-b1915) ## Sources - Birth certificate (held; details recorded in the Whillas–McLeod family history spreadsheet, Rev 4). - [Interview with Teena McLean, interviewed by Erika Whillas, 16 Aug 2026](/documents/interview-teena-mclean-2026). - Whillas–McLeod family history spreadsheet (Rev 4), *1940s* sheet.