People Australia

  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites

Browse People:

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

Standish Michael (Stan) Keon (1913–1987)

This article was published:

Stan Keon, c.1948

Stan Keon, c.1948

State Library of Victoria, 49202363

Standish Michael (Stan) Keon (1913-1987) public servant, trade union official, parliamentarian and company director. 

Birth: 3 July 1913 at Carlton, Victoria, and registered as Horace Stanley, son of Phillip Tobyn Keon (1881-1964), a salesman, of Irish ancestry, born at Launceston, Tasmania, and Victorian-born Jane, née Scott (1889-1962). Unmarried. Death: 22 January 1987 at Richmond, Victoria. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Educated at St Ignatius School, Richmond, Victoria. Worked as a public servant. Secretary of the Victorian Public Service Association from 1939 to 1945.
  • Delegate to Trades Hall Councils of Geelong and Melbourne. A member of the Australian Labor Party from 1927.
  • Campaign seretary to Arthur Calwell. President of East Melbourne branch of ALP, 1943-1948. Executive-member of the Victorian ALP in 1948-1955.
  • Elected member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for seat of Richmond from 1945; resigned in 1949.
  • Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Yarra from 1949 until he was defeated (as a Democratic Labor Party candidate) in 1955.
  • Contested Federal seats of Yarra in 1958, 1961, 1963 and 1966, Ballarat (in a by-election) in 1978, and Kew 1979.
  • Deputy Federal leader of the Anti-Communist Labor Party (DLP), 1955; vice-president, Federal and State DLP; secretary of DLP, Victoria 1978
  • After he left parliament, he was managing partner in a wine and spirit firm; managing director and proprietor of George Adams & Co. Pty Ltd (Tattersalls), 1960; president of Burnley Football Club; vice-president of Richmond Swimming Club; trustee Olympic Park.
  • Catholic Young Men's Society member. Occupation on death certificate: company director
  • Cause of death: acute renal failure (2 days), diabetes mellitus (40 years), and ischemic heart disease (5 years). 

Sources
Joan Rydon (ed), A biographical register of the Commonwealth Parliament 1901-1972 (ANU Press, 1975); Geoff Browne, Biographical register of the Victorian Parliament, 1900-84 (Melbourne, 1985.

This person appears as a part of the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 17. [View Article]

Related Entries in NCB Sites

Citation details

'Keon, Standish Michael (Stan) (1913–1987)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/keon-standish-michael-stan-12734/text44581, accessed 18 March 2026.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Stan Keon, c.1948

Stan Keon, c.1948

State Library of Victoria, 49202363

Life Summary [details]

Alternative Names
  • Keon, Horace Stanley
Birth

3 July, 1913
Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Death

22 January, 1987 (aged 73)
Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Cause of Death

diabetes

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Education
Occupation or Descriptor
Key Organisations
Political Activism
Workplaces