Next gen at the wheel

By Caitlin Sloan

The next generation of soft servers has stepped up to keep a much-loved local business going.

For almost 30 years Thirroul’s Ken Murray has been the Illawarra’s saving grace on hot summer days, touring our streets in his Ken’s Cones icecream van. But in November 2022 he announced that he was taking a step back from work as his wife Janelle was battling breast cancer, after having received the devastating diagnosis in late June.

Now, Ken and Janelle’s daughter, Tanya, and her partner Kurt have moved home with their 20-month-old to be closer to family – and take up the challenge of running Ken’s Cones.

But they have some big shoes to fill.

Ken’s ice-cream van is well-known locally – and Ken’s an avant-garde vendor: in February 2021 we reported on how Ken’s Cones had employed new GPS technology so patrons could track his van in real-time. With this and the van’s unique call-out service, Ken’s mission is to ensure no one goes without a soft serve.

Ken says that it’s not only the elation and excitement that an ice-cream cone brings to children that makes his job so fulfilling, but the nostalgia and joy he sees in their parents and grandparents as well.

“Seeing the joy in little kids – and they’re just beaming – and my little grandson is the same when he has an ice-cream off Grand pop,” Ken says.

“You bring back memories and good times –because it is a good time – having an ice cream is a treat and it’s a happy occasion.”

Ken is now focussed on caring for his wife. Janelle’s breast cancer is the latest devastating health blow for the family; she also had to undergo a double hip replacement twice in the last decade.

“It’s been a very emotional ride,” Ken says.

“She’s a tough woman, my wife.”

Though you might not find Ken serving ice-creams in the immediate future – despite the occasional “cameo appearance” – as he remains home to care for Janelle, he will be in the background managing the business and preparing his famous soft serve mixture.

But the van is now in good hands, he says.

“They’re enjoying it, and Kurt’s very good with customers.

“Tanya’s got the gift of the gab too.

“You meet such lovely people out there – that’s the other part of the job… you strike up these friendships.”

Behind the scenes, Ken and Janelle will take a well-earned break to enjoy the finer things in life, fitting in some date nights – “that’s the modern thing these days,” Ken says – in between grandparent duties.

With Ken’s Cones still in full swing, the best way to support the Murray family is by buying an ice-cream when you spot the van this summer, hiring their services for functions and stopping for a chat when you spot them out on one of those date nights.

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