Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Thursday 6 September 1923, page 13


REV. FATHER CLANCY.

Perhaps there is no figure more close ly identified with thc intermediate and present progress of the Innisfail dis trict than the Rev. Father Michael Clancy. A native of County Limerick Ireland, he arrived in Australia in 1898 and was stationed in the parish of Cairns for three years, paying occasion al visits to Innisfail till 1898 when he became resident parish priest. Apart from his religions duties , he took a great part in the fostering and development of the sugar district and land settle ment generally, being a firm believer in the ultimate success of those who stick to the land. He had a firm and well founded belief in the future of the in-dustry. Mourilyan and Goondi being then in their second and more progress-ive stages. The Goondi plantations were being broken up, and the land pur-chased by white growers. Father Clancy saw the development, much to his sat-isfaction, of the South Johnstone area. In the earlier days of Father Clancy's residence in the district, he occasionally visited Cairns. Herberton and Cardwell trips which were made under the great-est difficulties, mere bridle tracks through the scrub being the rule. Several limes he has passed over the country where Millaa Millaa is to-day, Oswald's Track, and the Jordan Creek Diggings. Eastward of Millaa Millaa there is a very prominent mountain standing on the lower country within the circle of ranges which is known to the residents of that district as Mount Father Clancy, a fitting and permanent monument to the earlier and difficult work of Father Clancy in his territory. At present, Father Clancy visits South Johnstone, Mourilyan, and occasional!} Cardwell. He has a motor car and a

motor boat, which are both used in the working of his parish. He takes a keen and lively interest in healthy sport, and

is somewhat of a keen amateur marine

engineer, frequently attending to the engine of his motor boat, while that other

fine old resident of Innisfail, Dr. Leavy, may often he noticed as assistant navi-gator of the numerous shallows and mud flats of the river. Occasional short cuts in navigation have led to trouble and mutual recrimination between the navigator and engineer, much to the amusement of those within range and hearing. Father Clancy has other churches projected for construction at South Johnstone and Mourilyan. He also has perhaps, a better grip of some of the questions affecting immigration and settlement than most other men one would meet, founded on his lengthy ex

perience of the district, and the large number of people he has met and stud-ied, so that his opinions are worth a considerable amount of weight in the

current controversy in such matter: In his work Father Clancy is assisted by the Rev. Father Boyle. O.S.A.. who relieves him of the heavier work in the outer parts of the parish. Father Clan-cy has in hand a programme of the pro jected important improvements. ln the near future, a new concrete church of the latest design, and estimated to cost 10.000 pounds will be constructed. In add

ition, there will be a Presbytery, the

materials of which have not been de-

cided on, bul will be in keeping with the other part of the building programme.