Kevin McQuay

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Ultra laundry concentrate was one of the "exciting" cleaning products offered by Big Kev's, Ltd.

Kevin "Big Kev" McQuay (1949 – December 5, 2005) was an Australian cleaning products entrepreneur.

[edit] Television career

His career on television took off in the 1990s as a regular guest on the infomercial component of Good Morning Australia. The former Carey Grammar student built up a good rapport with its host, Bert Newton.

Kev was a flamboyant party animal who loved a drink with his brother "little Steve", and weighed 130kg. His catchphrase was "I'm excited!". He continued to appear on Good Morning Australia into the early-mid 2000s.

Big Kev was well known in the V8 Supercar community as the sponsor of Paul Morris Motorsport during the 2000 and 2001 seasons. He regularly appeared at race meetings and on TV with scantily-clad promotional girls.

[edit] Big Kev's Ltd.

In 2001 to 2002 he hit his peak as an advertiser appearing on commercials promoting "Big Kev's" range of cleaning products for kitchen and laundry. He appeared on television commercials wearing a big blue shirt with an Australian flag design, aiming to promote the fact that Big Kev's products were 100% Australian-owned and not run by overseas companies. At one point he even hosted a half-hour low budget variety show on late night television, which was a thinly disguised excuse to promote his products. Amid this success, in August 2001 he floated his company, Big Kev's Ltd, on the Australian Stock Exchange. The company initially did well, but eventually ran into major financial problems. In November 2004, Big Kev resigned from the position of chairman of Big Kev's Ltd, deciding to cut his losses.

[edit] Death

McQuay died at 8.30pm on December 5, 2005 in the Allamanda Private Hospital on the Gold Coast. The cause of death was confirmed as a heart attack caused by a staph infection. He left behind his wife Michelle and three sons.

Phil 'Big Phil' Gough, is Kev's oldest son and has plans to follow in his footsteps. He is having financial problems with getting Eclipse Events off the ground but is slowly making progress.

[edit] External links

• Big Kev scrubs himself out as new chief plans a major makeover (Nov 2004)
• 'Big Kev' dies from heart attack (Dec 2005)

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