Michael Beahan

Michael Eamon Beahan (21 January 1937 – 30 January 2022) was a British-born Australian politician who served as the 19th President of the Australian Senate, holding that position from 1 February 1994 to 30 June 1996. He was a Senator representing Western Australia in the Australian Senate from 1987 to 1996.

Early life and career Born in London, England to Irish parents in 1937, Michael Beahan was educated at the Salesian College in Battersea, where he successfully completed O levels in 1953. Following a year as a clerk with a large insurance company, he migrated to Australia with his parents, four brothers and his sister in 1954. He commenced work as a process worker at the Australian Electrical Company, which manufactured electric motors, transformers and welders at its East Perth factory, later gaining an apprenticeship with an allied company. Having completed his apprenticeship he gained an A grade licence, permitting him to carry out all types of electrical work and later established his own small business as an electrical contractor. During this time he undertook compulsory military service (three months full-time and two years compulsory part-time) serving with the 13th Field Squadron of the Royal Australian Engineers.

In 1964 he returned to study, completing his matriculation at Leederville Technical College, Perth, and went on to complete degrees in Arts and Education at the University of Western Australia. He taught at secondary and tertiary levels, becoming in 1973 the Trades and Labor Council's first education officer. From this position he was seconded to Melbourne in 1974 as part of a three-person team to set up the Australian Trade Union Training Authority (TUTA), a Federal Government funded statutory authority providing education and training programs for union officials. He ran TUTA's first three-week residential "train the trainer" course and in 1975 became TUTA's Western Australian Director, a position he held until 1981. He was also awarded the Centenary Medal and the National Service Medal. Beahan died on 30 January 2022, at the age of 85.