Keith Charles Dennis was born in Walgett Hospital on October 29, 1945. His mother was Joanne Cruse (identified as Cruise [sic] in Aboriginal Men's Heritage: Walgett and Collarenebri) and his father was Dudley Dennis. He lived on Gingie Mission until he was fifteen and then went cattle droving from Walgett to Wee Waa, sheep mustering and shearing and fencing as well.