John Joseph Fahey AC (1945 - 2020)

Born 10 Jan 1945 in Wellington, New Zealand

Died 12 Sep 2020 at age 75 in New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

John Fahey AC is Notable.

The Honourable John Fahey AC was an Australian lawyer and politician who served as Premier of New South Wales from 1992 to 1995 and as the federal Minister for Finance from 1996 to 2001. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1984 to 1996 and the federal House of Representatives from 1996 to 2001. He also served as president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (2007-13) and was chancellor of the Australian Catholic University (2014-20). He is noted for his integrity and faith, and for thwarting an assassination attempt on Charles, Prince of Wales on Australia Day 1994 by tackling the offender.

The Honourable John Joseph Fahey AC

Formative years

John Joseph Fahey was born on 10th January 1945 at Wellington, New Zealand. He was a son of Stephen Fahey, a farmer, and his wife Annie Fahey of Galway, Ireland. In 1956, the family migrated to Picton, New South Wales. He was educated at Chevalier College in Bowral and the University of Sydney, from which he qualified as a solicitor with the Diploma of Law. ^[1]

John played 37 lower grade matches for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the New South Wales Rugby League (now the National Rugby League). He also enjoyed swimming and tennis.

He was senior partner in John Fahey, Searle and Co, solicitors from 1975 to 1986. ^[2]

He married Colleen Maree McGurren in 1968 at Bowral. ^[3] They had a son and two daughters: ^[1]

1. Matthew Fahey (c1970-)
2. Melanie Fahey (c1974-)
3. Tiffany Fahey (1979-2006); when Tiffany was killed in a road accident in December 2006, John and Colleen became the legal guardians of Tiffany's two young children.

John became a naturalised Australian in 1973. ^[1]

Parliamentary career

In twelve years (1984-96) as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, John was the Minister for Industrial Relations and Employment and Minister Assisting the Premier (188-90), Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Further Education, Training and Employment (1990-92), before being elected Premier in 1992 by his Liberal Party peers. Whilst Premier, he also held the portfolios of Treasurer (1992-93) and Minister for Economic Development (1992-95). ^[2]

As the member of the House of Representatives for Macarthur (1996-2001), his service included the ministerial portfolios of Finance (1996-97) and Finance and Administration (1997-2001). ^[2]

Community

His community meant much to John Fahey, as is evidenced by his volunteer involvement as chairman of Camden Rugby League Football Club Limited, secretary and member of Camden Rotary Club, vice president and member of Macarthur Law Society, chairman of Australian Rugby League Development Board and the Bradman Foundation. He was also adirector of Royal Flying Doctor Service National Council. ^[2]

A devout Roman Catholic, John created some controversy when he declared his opposition to both abortion and birth control. Pope Francis made him a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory the Great in 2019. ^[1]

Recognition

He was awarded the Centenary Medal on the occasion of Australia's centenary in 2001. ^[4]

John was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2002 for 'service to the Australian and New South Wales Parliaments, particularly through landmark reform of industrial relations, facilitation of high technology and industry growth, and for raising the international profile of Australia as Chairman of the Bid for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games'. ^[5] He was awarded the Federation Medal in 2003.

In 2016, he was awarded the Esprit du Chevalier Medal by his alma mater, Chevalier College, that institution's highest public honour. ^[1]

Higher calling

John passed away of leukemia on 12th September 2020. ^[1] He was aged 75 years.