Candy Devine

Candy Devine, MBE (born ca. 1939) is the stage name of Faye Ann McLeod (born Faye Ann Guivarra ca. 1939), an Australian-born broadcaster, singer, and actress.[1] She was a radio broadcaster and singer in Northern Ireland for over 35 years.[2][3]

For the American wrestler, see Candi Devine.

Candy Devine

MBE
Born
Faye Ann Guivarra

ca. 1939 (age 80–81)
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
OccupationActress, singer, musician, radio broadcaster
Years active1970–2013
Spouse(s)Donald McLeod (1970–2012)

Early years

Candy Devine (birth name Faye Ann Guivarra) was born in about 1939 in Cairns to a sugar-farming family.[4][5] Devine has a multicultural heritage, with Sri Lankan, Filipino, Spanish, Danish and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.[6] Her parents were co-founders of the Cairns multicultural music group, the Tropical Troubadours, and later established the city's Coloured Social Club.[4]

Devine was educated at St Augustine's School, East Innisfail, a boarding school from 1948 – she provided "incidental music and accompaniments" at their 1952 break-up ceremony.[4][7] For secondary education she attended Brisbane's Lourdes Hill College from the early 1950s.[4] She furthered her interest in music while at college.[4] Later she studied piano and cello at Queensland Conservatorium[4] before taking to the stage in Sydney.

Devine's appearances in Australian television include the series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo (1968)[8] and fronting for ABC's, In Key.[9]

Life in Ireland

Devine travelled to Ireland in 1969 on what was intended to be a short visit.[10] She was hired for a cabaret slot at the Talk of the Town club in Belfast. She married her promoter and booking agent, Donald McLeod, in Dublin in 1970. They lived in the Republic for five years and moved to Belfast in Northern Ireland in 1975.[4]

Devine began a long career with Downtown Radio in March 1976.[4] They had four children, including Brisbane-based celebrity chef, Alastair McLeod.[2] Candy Devine was awarded an MBE on The Queen's 2014 honours list. Her award was for "Services to Broadcasting and to the Community in Northern Ireland".[11]

She moved back to Australia in 2013 following the death of her husband, Donald McLeod, the previous year. As of September 2016 she lives in Brisbane, sharing a five-acre property with her son, Alastair and his family.[4][12]

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References
  1. "International Women's Day Breakfast 2014 with guest speaker. Faye McLeod aka 'Candy Devine'" (Press release). Lourdes Hill College. March 2014.
  2. McCarry, Grainne (12 June 2008). "Me and my health: Candy Devine". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  3. Little, Ivan (24 December 2013). "Candy Devine – back in Australia's sunshine after a short gig in Ireland which lasted 44 happy years". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  4. "Women inspiring women". 14 March 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  5. Uncle Toby (17 May 1948). "The Children's Corner: Competition Results: Intermediate Division". The Worker. 59 (3174). Brisbane, Qld. p. 20. Retrieved 18 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia. Note: Faye Ann Guivarra is 9 years old in May 1948.
  6. "Alastair McLeod". Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  7. "Sacred Heart Convent High School Breaking Up Concert". The Evening Advocate. Innisfail, Qld. 11 December 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 18 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Classic Australian Television". Episode 23. "Sing me back". Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  9. Catterns, Angela (4 September 2002). "Candy Devine – Belfast, Northern Ireland". 702 ABC Sydney (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)). Archived from the original on 30 November 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  10. Little, Ivan (26 March 2015). "Candy Devine on her exciting new life Down Under". Belfast Telegraph. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  11. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269031/New-Year-Honours-2014-PM-list.pdf
  12. Ireland, Karen (7 September 2016). "How husband's death convinced Downtown star Candy to give up life on the radio to rediscover her Australian roots". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
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