People Australia

Peter O'Loghlen, by Bartletto, c. 1920

State Library of Western Australia, 67187161

Peter Laurence O'Loghlen (1882-1923) timber-worker, trade union official and parliamentarian

Birth: 24 April 1882 at Georgetown, South Australia, son of Michael James O'Loghlen (1846-1926), farmer, and Catherine Mary, née Kean (1847-1891). Both parents had been born in County Clare, Ireland — Michael at Corofin, Catherine at Frare. Unmarried. Death: 13 November 1923 at Minnivale, Western Australia. Religion: Catholic. 

• Peter was educated locally at St Joseph's school. Worked on a farm in SA at the age of 13. Later joined the Public Service of South Australia at age of 15.
• Moved to Western Australia in 1902. Worked in sawmills in the South-West including Denmark Mill and Worsley. Member of the Timber Workers' Union. Transferred to North Coolgardie goldfields in 1904. Officer in Amalgamated Workers' Association 1905-1906. Trustee of Survey Hands Union 1913.
• Goldmining at Laverton, Menzies, and Woolgar 1907 to 1913 and became a prominent trade unionist and footballer. Largely through his efforts, the Menzies Miners' Union became one of the most flourishing organisations in the state. Held various offices in Menzies Miners Union including president.
• Prominent in establishing Federated Miners' Union (FMU). At first FMU conference was invited to stand for seat of Pilbara at State elections but declined. Subsequently was unsuccessful in Australian Labor Party preselection for Leonora. Selected to contest Swan Federal seat against Sir John Forrest, the Federal Treasurer in 1906.
• Elected unopposed for State Seat of Forrest for Labor from 1908 until his death. Contested Federal seat of Swan in 1906, 1910 and 1913 — resigning Forrest seat in Assembly in 1910 and 1913 but resuming seat when unsuccessful. As MLA for Forrest was only opposed once — in the 1910 by-election.
• General president of the ALP in WA from 1916 to 1918. Vice-president Australian Labor Federation (ALF) WA for 3 years at least. General president of ALF 1917-1923.
• Labor whip in parliament for several years. Secretary of the Parliamentary Labour Party in 1917-1923; In parliament was authority on forestry.
• He was a splendid orator. Wrote for the Westralian Worker (WW) under pen-name of 'Vertical', and acted as editor on several occasions.
• General president of labour movement in WA. Presided over an interstate conference of ALP.
• Contracted influenza in 1919 whilst attending Federal Labor Congress in Sydney and became hospitalised and gravely ill for many weeks, never fully recovering; Underwent operation in 1922 but it was unsuccessful. A trip to the North-West, Java and Singapore with party of parliamentarians further affected his health. Forced to withdraw from parliament through ill-health.
• Died on brothers' farm at Minnivale. Cause of death: chronic pulmonary tuberculosis and exhaustion.

Sources
West Australian (Perth) 14 September 1908, 14 November 1923; J. S. Battye (ed), Cyclopedia of Western-Australia, Volume 1 (Adelaide, 1912), pp 350-351 (port.) and 353-354; David Black and Geoffrey Bolton, Biographical Register of members of the parliament of Western Australia, vol 1, 1870-1930, (Perth, 1990); D. J. Murphy (ed), Labor in Politics: State Labor Parties in Australia, 1880-1920 (St Lucia, Qld, 1975; Cyclopedia of Western Australia p 353-54, Westralian Worker, 16 November 1923, p 3, 30 April 1937, p 5; Australian Worker, 3 June 1915, 14 November 1923, p 18, 5 December 1923 p 1.