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Gerald William Mahoney (1892–1955)

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Gerald William Mahoney  (1892-1955) labor politician

Birth: 24 May 1892, Railton, Tasmania. Son of Cornelius Mahoney, carpenter, and Margaret nee O’Halloran. Married. Edith Margaret Mansfield, 1919, Hobart. They had one son and one daughter. Death: 16 September 1955, Hobart. Roman Catholic.

  • Educated at St. Patrick’s Convent School, Latrobe;
  • Carried swag in NSW and Vic. when young;
  • Returned to Tasmania; painter when work available;
  • Rep. Seamen’s Union, Port of Hobart, 1920s;
  • Attempted to organise timber workers 1920s;
  • Aust. Builders’ Labourers’ Union representative at Melbourne Conference, 1922;
  • Part-time secretary, Painters’ and Decorators’ Union until death;
  • Member House of Assembly, Denison, 1931-34 (defeated); Contested Denison 1925, 1928, 1934; Expelled from ALP, stood as Ind. Labor 1925, later readmitted; Member House of Representatives, Denison, 1934-40 (defeated); Contested Denison 1943 as Independent Labor;
  • Much work with unemployed during Depression;
  • Employed Manpower Administration during WWII;
  • Secretary, Citizens’ Committee in beer strike during late 1920s;
  • Member, Trainers’ and Breeders’ Greyhound Assn.;
  • Member, North Hobart Football Club.

 S. Bennett & B. Bennett, Biographical Register of the Tasmanian Parliament, 1851–1960, Canberra, 1980; Rydon

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Citation details

'Mahoney, Gerald William (1892–1955)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/mahoney-gerald-william-31949/text39418, accessed 1 July 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

24 May, 1892
Railton, Tasmania, Australia

Death

16 September, 1955 (aged 63)
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

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.

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