John McMahon (Australian politician)

John Michael Alfred McMahon (21 February 1914 – 19 May 1975) was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1950 until 1968. He was a member of the Labor Party and held ministerial positions including Minister for Transport and Minister for Lands.[1]

The Honourable John McMahon
Minister for Lands
In office 1 April 1959 – 31 May 1960
Premier	Joseph Cahill Bob Heffron
Preceded by	William Gollan
Succeeded by	Jack Renshaw
Minister for Transport
In office 31 May 1960 – 13 May 1965
Premier	Bob Heffron Jack Renshaw
Preceded by	George Enticknap
Succeeded by	Milton Morris
Alderman of the Balmain Municipal Council
In office 5 December 1942 – 2 December 1944
Preceded by	Michael McMahon
Constituency	South-West Ward
Personal details
Born	(1914-02-21)21 February 1914 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Died	19 May 1975(1975-05-19) (aged 61) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political party	Labor
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1943–1945
Rank	Lance Sergeant
Unit	Royal Australian Engineers 2/11 Australian Army Transport Company
Battles/wars	Second World War

Early life

McMahon was born in Hobart, Tasmania and was the son of, Michael Hubert McMahon (d. 1942), a clerk who later became the Mayor of Balmain. He was educated at the Christian Brother's, Rozelle and was employed as a store manager for Coles & Co.. He served in the Second Australian Imperial Force in the Engineers' Corps from 1943–1945 and reached the rank of Lance Sergeant.[2] He later ran a delicatessen in Rozelle and was a member of the shop assistants' union. He was elected as an alderman on Balmain Municipal Council between 1942 and 1944, when the council was composed entirely of Labor councillors. His father was mayor before he joined the council, and McMahon filled his place on the council at a December 1942 by-election.[3][4][5]

Political career

McMahon entered the New South Wales Parliament at the 1950 state election as the labor member for Balmain. He defeated the sitting Labor member Mary Quirk who had lost her party endorsement. McMahon was a member of the governments of Joseph Cahill, Robert Heffron and Jack Renshaw. He was appointed as a Minister without portfolio in 1957 and became the first Minister for Lands in 1959.

In 1960 he was commissioned as the Minister for Transport and he held this position until the defeat of the Labor government at the 1965 election. He retained his seat and retired at the 1968 election. He died age 61 in 1975 and was buried at Field of Mars Cemetery, East Ryde, following a service at St Joseph's Church, Rozelle.[6]

References

1. "The Hon John Michael Alfred McMahon (1914-1975)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
2. "MCMAHON, JOHN MICHAEL ALFRED". World War Two Nominal Roll. Australian Government. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
3. "MAYOR OF BALMAIN NOTED CATHOLIC, DIES SUDDENLY". Catholic Weekly. I (38). New South Wales, Australia. 19 November 1942. p. 6. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald (32, 728). New South Wales, Australia. 18 November 1942. p. 1. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION RESULTS". The Sydney Morning Herald (33, 368). New South Wales, Australia. 4 December 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Government Gazette Notices". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales (72). New South Wales, Australia. 21 May 1975. p. 1955. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Mary Quirk	Member for Balmain 1950 – 1968	Succeeded by Roger Degen
Political offices
Preceded by William Gollan as Secretary for Lands	Minister for Lands 1959 – 1960	Succeeded by Jack Renshaw
Preceded by George Enticknap	Minister for Transport 1960 – 1965	Succeeded by Milton Morris