Jim McKee was born at Leichhardt, NSW and was the youngest of nine siblings. The family moved to the suburb of Drummoyne when Jim was an infant. It was here that he grew up and learned his rugby league.
Jim was a Wests junior, who played with the Five Dock Rugby League Club. He was selected for the Wests President’s Cup team in 1928, and from there was graded with Wests in the same year.
