Michael O'Keefe (Queensland politician)

Michael O'Keeffe
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Lockyer
In office 27 August 1904 – 18 May 1907
Preceded by	William Armstrong
Succeeded by	William Armstrong
Personal details
Born	Michael O'Keeffe 1854 Cashel, Tipperary, Ireland
Died	30 August 1941 (aged 87) Laidley, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Laidley Cemetery
Political party	Ministerialist
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Ryan (m.1922)
Occupation	Dairy farmer
Religion	Roman Catholic

Michael O'Keeffe (1854 - 30 August 1941) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Biography

O'Keeffe was born at Cashel, Tipperary, the son of William O'Keeffe and his wife Ellen (née Heffernan). He was educated in Cashel and arrived in Queensland where he selected land in the Lockyer region ad became a successful farmer and grazier. In 1911 he became an immigration agent for Queensland, based in Ireland.^[2]

On the 10th July 1872 O'Keeffe married Elizabeth Ryan^[1] (died 1922)^[3] and together had four sons and six daughters. He died at Laidley in August 1941 and his funeral proceeded from St Patrick's Catholic Church in Laidley^[2] to the Laidley Cemetery.^[4]

Public career

O'Keeffe first entered politics as a councilor for the Laidley Divisional Board before unsuccessfully challenging William Armstrong for the seat of Lockyer in the Queensland Legislative Assembly at the 1902 Queensland state election.^[5]

At the 1904 Queensland state election he challenged Armstrong again and this time was successful.^[6] In 1907 however, Armstrong won back the electorate.^[7] O'Keefe stood one more time against Armstrong, this time in 1909 but was once again beaten.^[8]

He was a founder of the Queensland Farmers Co-operative Association and a director of the company from 1907. He was also a Director of the Booval Co-operative Dairy Company, and a member of the Laidley Agricultural Society.^[1]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
2. "DEATH OF MR. MICHAEL O'KEEFFE.". Queensland Times (17088). Queensland, Australia. 1 September 1941. p. 2 (DAILY.). Retrieved 20 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
3. Family history research — Queensland Government births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
4. Michael O'Keefe — Find a Grave. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
5. "LOCKYER.". The Brisbane Courier. LVIII, (13,779). Queensland, Australia. 12 March 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 20 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "LOCKYER. (1).". The Brisbane Courier. LXI, (14,549). Queensland, Australia. 30 August 1904. p. 5. Retrieved 20 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "ADDITIONAL DETAILS.". The Brisbane Courier. LXIII, (15,402). Queensland, Australia. 24 May 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 20 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "DETAILS OF VOTING.". The Brisbane Courier. LXVI, (16,140). Queensland, Australia. 4 October 1909. p. 6. Retrieved 20 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.