The Late Mr. Michael O'Meara, MELBOURNE

New Zealand Tablet, 13 February 1913, Page 47

The Late Mr. Michael O'Meara, MELBOURNE

A notable figure in Irish and Catholic circles in Victoria (says the Melbourne Advocate) passed away on January 2, in the person of Mr. Michael O'Meara Born at Woodford, in County Tipperary, in 1829—the year of Catholic Emancipation—he had reached the ripe age of 84. When 18 years old he joined the Royal Irish Constabulary, and was a police officer during the terrible years of the Irish famine, and witnessed harrowing scenes, that were ever vivid in his memory The discovery of gold in Australia induced him to emigrate and seek his fortune in the new land, and he arrived in Melbourne in 1853, having as cabin mates the late Sir Henry Wrixon and Judge J. J. Casey. Aiter ary _ ing fortunes on the goldfields at Castlemainefhr joined the Victorian police force, and served under Mr. Robert O Hara Burke, who was then Superintendent of Police who afterwards led, in company with Wills, the famous exploring expedition across Australia. Mr O'Meara and Mr. Burke had served together in the Royal Trish

Constabulary, and were warm friends. In a short time he was made a senior constable, and placed in charge of a station. He had many trying adventures with bushrangers and other law-breakers, and was always noted for his fearlessness. When doing gold escort duty at Violet Town in 1861 he had the misfortune to lose two fingers of his right hand by a gun explosion, and was thereby forced to sever his connection with the Victorian police. He then secured an appointment in the Eailways and Roads department, and remained a Civil Servant until he retired on pension nineteen years ago.

In the early sixties he began to take an active interest in Irish and Catholic "matters. He joined St. Patrick's Society, and was president on several occasions, and a member of the managing committee for close on forty years. He was one of the founders of the United Friendly Societies' Dispensary. He was always a zealous worker in Church affairs; was one of the first members of the League of the Cross, and took a deep interest in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. . In 1858 he married Margaret Patterson, whose brother, Sir James B. Patterson, was for many years a member of the Victorian Parliament, and was Premier of the State in 1893-4. This lady predeceased him by nearly fifty years. His second wife was Catherine Cashin, whose family was well known in Railtown, near Cloumel, County Tipperary. She died four years ago. He leaves behind him to mourn the loss of a good father—Mr. J. T. P. O'Meara, the managing editor of the Austral Light, and lay secretary of the Australian Catholic Truth Society; Mrs. Lawson, and Sister Pancratius, of the Convent of Mercy, Fitzroy. Mr. James Butler, of Palmerston North, is a nephew of the deceased. He was buried from his son's residence on January 4, and the respect in which he was held was manifested by the large attendance at his funeral. Among the pall-bearers were the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Mr. P. C. Quirk (State Parliamentary Librarian), and Dr. T. P. Mc-Inerney (Warden of the Senate of the University). In the words of his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne, 'he had reached a ripe old age, and in the days of his activity and strength he labored well for Church and State, and gave an example of virtue to younger men which wiU survive him long.' •