Sir Christopher Sheehy

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(25 December 1894 – 31 August 1960) was one of Queensland's and Australia's leading dairy industry administrators.

Early life, family background and education

Sheehy was born at

Gympie Gympie ( ) is a city and a Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. Located in the Greater Sunshine Coast, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River ( ...

, Queensland, the third of six children of Irish-born parents Jeremiah Sheehy, goldmine manager, and his wife Kate, née O'Driscoll. Sheehy was educated at the Christian Brothers' College, Gympie. Sheehy's brother and sister also served the State of Queensland. His brother

The Honourable ''The Honourable'' (Commonwealth English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific Style ...

Sir Joseph Sheehy

KBE KBE may refer to: * Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, post-nominal letters * Knowledge-based engineering Knowledge-based engineering (KBE) is the application of knowledge-based systems technology to the domain o ...

was a Queensland Supreme Court Justice and three times Administrator of the State of Queensland, and his sister Kathleen Sheehy was a champion of

special education Special education (also known as special-needs education, aided education, alternative provision, exceptional student education, special ed., SDC, and SPED) is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates their individual di ...

in Queensland, being instrumental in renaming State education classes for children with disabilities from 'backward classes' to 'opportunity classes,' and was appointed head of the State's first ever Opportunity school (later renamed

Special schools Special education (also known as special-needs education, aided education, alternative provision, exceptional student education, special ed., SDC, and SPED) is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates their individual di ...

). Sheehy studied accountancy in Brisbane and joined the

Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock The Department of Primary Industries is the Queensland Government department responsible for developing Queensland's Primary sector of the economy, primary industries. The section known as Biosecurity Queensland is responsible for biosecurity m ...

as a clerk in January 1911. In February 1920 he married Ruby Maria Bridget Barlow, a Sydney-born clerk, who later became Lady (Ruby) Sheehy when Sheehy was knighted.Australian Honours Search
/ref>''The Courier Mail'', 13 June 1959, p.1.

Queensland State appointments

Sheehy was Secretary of the Queensland Wheat Board from 1920 and Secretary of the Queensland Council of Agriculture from 1926 to 1938. In 1928 Sheehy also became Secretary of the Queensland Butter Board, a position he combined with that of State Secretary (1928 to 1934) for the (Thomas) 'Paterson Plan', which levied butter production to pay a bounty on the exported product.

Australian Federal appointments

In 1937 Sheehy became General Manager of Australia's Commonwealth Dairy Produce Equalisation Committee Ltd, retaining the post until his death. In 1943 the Australian Government appointed Sheehy controller of dairy products under the New Food Plan, and in 1952 he was appointed Chairman of the Australian Dairy Produce Board.

Awards and honours

In January 1951 Sheehy was appointed an Officer of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(

). He was subsequently knighted by

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

in June 1959.

Death

Soon after being reappointed Chairman of the Australian Dairy Produce Board by the Australian Government in June 1960, Sheehy died on 31 August 1960 of a ruptured duodenal ulcer. Following a Requiem Mass at St Stephen's Cathedral he was buried in

Nudgee Cemetery Nudgee Cemetery & Crematorium is a large Roman Catholic cemetery at 493 St Vincents Road, Nudgee, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The cemetery opened in 1867 and is still operating. Over 31,000 people are buried there. Services The cemetery ...

.Queensland Country Life, 1 September 1960, p.4.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheehy, Christopher Australian public servants Officers of the Order of the British Empire 1894 births 1960 deaths People from Gympie Burials at Nudgee Cemetery