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Leahy, Michael James (Mick) (1901 - 1979)

MBE
Archival/Heritage SourcesPublished Sources
Explorer
Born: 26 February 1901  Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.  Died: 7 March 1979  Zenag, Papua New Guinea.
Michael James (Mick) Leahy was an explorer who published widely about, photographed and filmed many of his travels. Although born in Australia, but spent most of his adult life in Papua New Guinea. He worked as a railway clerk, a freelance timber cutter, as a manager in the construction industry and as a prospector before carrying out major explorations of Papua New Guinea. He was one of the first Europeans to reach many areas and to discover and climb the country’s tallest mountain – Mount Giluwe (1934). However, Jack Hides had also laid claim to be the first to discover Mount Giluwe, so Leahy went to England in 1935 and forced the Royal Geographical Society to set up a hearing into the two opposing claims. The following year Mick Leahy was awarded at grant from the Society and published his discoveries in their journal. He also joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a flight lieutenant and was assigned to the US chief engineer to build an airstrip in Telefomin. Leahy was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), made an honorary member of the US Explorers’ Club (1959) and was awarded the US Medal of Freedom with bronze palm.

(Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography, volume 1891-1939)

Career Highlights

Chronology
1930First European (with Michael Dwyer) to visit the Gafuku valley of New Guinea
1931Stakeholder of New Guinea Goldfields Ltd.
1933Expeditions through New Guinea to areas including the Wahgi-Nebilyer divide and Mount Hagen
1934Expeditions throughout New Guinea and climbed Mount Giluwe, the countries highest peak
1935Went to England for the Royal Geographical Society hearing over the discovery of Mount Giluwe and other landmarks
1936Murchison grant received from the Royal Geographical Society
1948US Medal of Freedom - bronze palm received
1952Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
1959Honorary member of the US Explorers' Club
1971Explorers' medal received from the US Explorers' Club
1983First Contact the award-winning film of his travels produced

 
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Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: McCarthy, G.J.
Created: 20 October 1993
Modified: 8 February 2006
Published by The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre on ASAPWeb, 1994 - 2007
Originally published 1994-1999 by Australian Science Archives Project, 1999-2006 by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
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Updated: 26 February 2007
http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P001326b.htm
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