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Daniel Kearney—Catholic
Layman.
AN APPRECIATION Mr. T. P.
WALSH.
The lives of such men as the late
"Dan" Kearney, of Geelong, supply
a complete answer to those critics
who fear that under the Southern
Cross the Irish race is losing its characteristics
and becoming undistinguishably
blended with less virile
peoples. His home-town has been
singularly prolific in men of this type
in whom are reproduced perfectly
the simple faith and homely virtues
and rugged strength of the old stock
There was nothing sectional or isolated
about Mr. Kearney, his tastes or
pursuits. To the day of his death
he enjoyed to the fullest extent the
varied life of the community in which
he lived. From early youth he was
a prominent figure in the Geelong
Catholic Young Men's Society, which
then included many who have since
graven their names deep in the annals
of Victorian Catholicity—Mr. J.
J. Trait, the Molombys, Messrs. J. T.
Rahilly, J. P. Martin, J. W. Wallace,
T. F. Cahill, J. E. Ferguson, W. H.
Bayley, Benj. Hoare, Thos. McDermott,
and others; and, under the
guidance of the Ven. Archdeacon
Slattery, stood in the very forefront
of our Catholic societies. It was
characteristic of the man that "Dan"
Kearney actually died in harness as
a member of the C.Y.M.S. Internal
troubles and financial weaknesses had
threatened its stability; learning this
he threw himself into the breach and
took up the position of auditor. He
organised the restless spirits into a
football team, which carried off the
local premiership, thanks to discipline
and training upon which his
knowledge of the game enabled him
to insist. For "Nasher." Mr.
Kearney was known in football
circles, had been one of that brilliant
band which carried the blue and
white of Geelong to championship
honours in 1886, and as a full back
his reliability and astuteness had
marked him out as a formidable rival
to the famous "Sonny" Elms, then,
at the height of his fame in South
Melbourne.
Whilst he was yet an active footballer,
I remember "Professor"
Searle, of the Western Baths, who
then acted as trainer to the Geelong
boys; commenting upon Kearney's
conduct whilst on intercolonial
trips. Searle regarded him as a model
of what a travelling footballer should
be. "Kearney," said he, "is a
front-rank footballer, but with all
his distinction he has neither pride
nor vice, and I have often noticed
the quiet, simple way in which at
night he retires and says his prayers,
or whatever he may have to do." The
quaint "Professor" was, as is evident,
not a Catholic, but Kearneys
simple piety affected him as it affected
others who had a closer view.
Mr Kearney was a cadet in the
St. Mary Total Abstinence Society,
that one time famous body which
Archdeacon Slattery organised to
combat the drink evil, then so rampant
in his parish. When it amalgamated
with the Geelong St.
Patrick's Society in 1894, he
was one of those who rallied
round the progressive leader
in that policy which eventually
culminated in the crowning
amalgamation of the St. Patricks
and the Hibernian societies, which,
amongst other results, set the Geelong branch
and its daughter, Asnby
with their connected female organisations,
as bright, particular
stars in the Hibernian firmament, m
due course, "Dan" filled the presidential
chair, and there; as always, was
a safe counsellor and a conscientious,
diligent worker. In all branches of
parish work the same unassuming,
but unremitting, attention was evident,
In the Catholic Federation
he was one of the mainstays, and on
the parish committee, of which he
was recently chairman, he was one
of that band which conceived and put
into operation the plan of direct
giving by which St Mary's parish is
defraying the
the
cost
of
its
unrivalled schools.
In the great war he lost one of his
sons. Later, when the conscrtiption
issue arose, he stood true to the lib-
erties of Australia. Another fine
instance of his loyalty to the call of
duty occurred a few years later. The
removal from Geelong of the writer
then secretary of the Sacred Heart
Sodality, left that important parish
position vacant. The duties demand
really the services of a man of
vigour, and with ample spare time.
No young man, however, could be ob-
tained; so "Dan" Kearney, notwith-
standing his years and the demands
of business and family cares stepped
into the breach and carried on man-
fully the work of the sodality. Peace
be to him! Would that we had more
like him!
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