‘Homeless-looking’ pensioner’s stunning final act of kindness as he leaves every cent of his $4.5million Clovelly home to charity

A pensioner who ‘looked as poor as a church mouse’ left a multi-million dollar donation to charity that will feed the homeless for six months.

Charity founder Reverend Bill Crews was shocked to hear that Malcolm Mawhinney, a lonely former civil servant, had left every cent of his home in Clovelly, in Sydney’s east, to the priest’s homeless foundation.

Mr. Mawhinney died in October 2021 at the age of 75 — and Rev. Crews had no idea Mr. Mawhinney even had the multi-million dollar home he donated after his death.

The two-bedroom property sold in August for $4.55 million – slightly more than the suburb’s average house price.

“(Malcolm) was a nice gentleman, always kind and gentle, but he looked like one of our (homeless) guests,” Rev. Crews said.

“He looked as poor as a church mouse.”

The abandoned Clovelly two-bedroom semi sold at auction last month for $4.55 million, with every penny going to charity

In this Google Streetview image, Mr. Mawhinney sits on his back deck in the sun

Mr Mawhinney led a simple life with friends and revealed he lived from hand to mouth, eating baked beans for dinner and tucking into a pair of schooners every afternoon at his local bowling club.

Rev Crews only learned of the legacy when he spread Mr Mawhinney’s ashes at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in accordance with his final wishes.

Mr Mawhinney was known for sitting in the same seat at the SCG for the Test match in Sydney every year. In his spare time, he volunteered with Rev Crews’ Exodus Foundation.

“He came here and showed movies to the homeless in our meeting room, everything from Rambo to the Sound of Music.

“By the end he was so weak I was afraid he wouldn’t be able to carry the DVDs he had put on,” Rev Crews joked.

‘But it’s people like Malcolm who keep us going.

“The sad situation is that his wonderful donation will only keep us going for six months because since Covid the demand for our services has quadrupled.”

The organization of Rev. Crews feed nearly 600,000 people annually.

Homelessness has escalated during the cost of living crisis, with Mission Australia claiming more than 122,000 Australians are homeless every night and another 1,660 more every month.

If Australia’s homeless were in one place, it would be the country’s 18th largest city, just behind Darwin.

Mr Mawhinney was also a dedicated supporter of cricket, AFL and rugby league. He supported the Sydney Swans and Wests Magpies.

Mr Mawhinney’s memorial service was held at the iconic Clovelly Bowling Club, where he walked to every day for a beer, just 250 meters from his home.

Mr Mawhinney, an unassuming man who regularly ate baked beans for dinner and was known to sit in the same SCG seat at every Test match, died in 2021 at the age of 75.

Mr Mawhinney’s house sold at auction in late August for $4.55 million, a shade above the average house price for the suburb

The Bill Crews Foundation, best known for feeding Sydney’s homeless, received $4.55 million from the sale of Bill Mawhinney’s dilapidated Clovelly semi. Pictured: Pastor Bill Crews (second from right) at one of his charity’s food trucks

The Bill Crews Foundation feeds Sydney’s homeless through its food trucks and from its free Loaves & Fishes restaurant in Ashfield, in the city’s west.

Rev Crews said the reason it costs so much to run the service is because once rough sleepers make contact, they start asking for more help, which is usually much more expensive than a plate of food.

For example, his organization has a free dental clinic on site, and the treatment each person needs can cost thousands of dollars.

In addition to meals and dental care, the charity provides legal assistance and laundry services for the homeless.

It also provides food parcels, clothing, welfare, rent and utilities to people struggling to meet their costs.

Last month, Homelessness Australia said demand for homeless services increased by 7.5 per cent across Australia between December and March due to rising rents and low vacancy rates.

A report from the organization found that a further 6,658 Australians sought shelter during that period.