Maurie Keane
politician
- September 21, 1923
- October 12, 2014
- 91 years
About Maurie Keane
Maurie Keane, 91, Australian politician, member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Woronora (1973–1988).
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Full Biography
|Maurice Francis "Maurie" Keane (21 September 1923 – 12 October 2014) was an Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Woronora in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1973 to 1988.
Born in Croydon Park in Sydney to Maurice and Desiree Keane, he attended Homebush High School and De La Salle College in Ashfield. After leaving school he became a proof-reader for a printing company in Sydney in 1940, before becoming a salesman in 1941. He enlisted in the AIF in 1942 and was a signalman with the 2nd Australian Corps of Signals. He returned to sales after the war's end in 1945. On 15 December 1951 he married Patricia Lucy Christmas, with whom he had three children.
In 1957, Keane joined the Labor Party; he went on to hold a number of positions within the party, including President of the Sutherland Branch, President of the Hughes Federal Electoral Council, and President of the Sutherland and Woronora State Electoral Councils. In 1962 he was elected to Sutherland Shire Council, and in 1965 became Secretary of the Sydney Water Board.
In 1973, a new state seat, Woronora, was created in the Sutherland area, with a notional Labor majority. Keane was selected as the Labor candidate and won the seat with a 2% margin. He held the seat until 1988, when it was renamed Sutherland and Keane was defeated by Liberal candidate Chris Downy. Subsequent to his defeat, he was executive director of the Aboriginal Land Council (1990–93) and Director of the Mandela Foundation of Australia (1994–95).
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurie_Keane
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Maurie Keane's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what year was Maurie Keane born?
- A.1920
- B.1923correct
- C.1927
- D.1925
Maurie Keane was born on 21 September 1923.
Source: biographical introduction
2.Where was Maurie Keane born?
- A.Woronora
- B.Ashfield
- C.Croydon Parkcorrect
- D.Sutherland
Maurie Keane was born in Croydon Park in Sydney.
Source: early life section
3.Which school did Maurie Keane attend?
- A.Croydon High
- B.Sydney Grammar
- C.Sutherland Secondary
- D.Homebush High Schoolcorrect
Maurie Keane attended Homebush High School and De La Salle College in Ashfield.
Source: early life section
4.What was Maurie Keane's first job after leaving school?
- A.Secretary
- B.Signalman
- C.Proof-readercorrect
- D.Salesman
Maurie Keane became a proof-reader for a printing company in Sydney in 1940.
Source: early career section
5.During which year did Maurie Keane enlist in the AIF?
- A.1941
- B.1942correct
- C.1945
- D.1940
Maurie Keane enlisted in the AIF in 1942 and served as a signalman.
Source: military service section
6.What was the name of Maurie Keane's wife?
- A.Helen Sutherland
- B.Patricia Lucy Christmascorrect
- C.Sydney Water
- D.Desiree Keane
Maurie Keane married Patricia Lucy Christmas on 15 December 1951.
Source: family section
7.In what year did Maurie Keane join the Labor Party?
- A.1951
- B.1957correct
- C.1965
- D.1962
Maurie Keane joined the Labor Party in 1957.
Source: political career section
8.Which position did Maurie Keane hold at the Sydney Water Board starting in 1965?
- A.President
- B.Proof-reader
- C.Director
- D.Secretarycorrect
In 1965, Maurie Keane became Secretary of the Sydney Water Board.
Source: political career section
9.Which state seat did Maurie Keane represent from 1973 to 1988?
- A.Croydon Park
- B.Sutherland
- C.Ashfield
- D.Woronoracorrect
Maurie Keane was the Labor member for Woronora in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.
Source: parliamentary career section
10.By what margin did Maurie Keane win the seat of Woronora in 1973?
- A.2%correct
- B.5%
- C.10%
- D.1%
Maurie Keane won the seat of Woronora with a 2% margin.
Source: parliamentary career section
11.Who defeated Maurie Keane when the seat of Woronora was renamed Sutherland?
- A.Maurice Keane
- B.Patricia Christmas
- C.Chris Downycorrect
- D.Aboriginal Council
Maurie Keane was defeated by Liberal candidate Chris Downy in 1988.
Source: parliamentary career section
12.Which role did Maurie Keane hold from 1990 to 1993?
- A.President of the Sutherland Branch
- B.Secretary of the Sydney Water Board
- C.Director of the Mandela Foundation
- D.Executive director of the Aboriginal Land Councilcorrect
Maurie Keane served as executive director of the Aboriginal Land Council from 1990 to 1993.
Source: post-parliamentary career section
13.What position did Maurie Keane hold from 1994 to 1995?
- A.Secretary of the Sydney Water Board
- B.Signalman in the AIF
- C.President of the Hughes Federal Electoral Council
- D.Director of the Mandela Foundation of Australiacorrect
Maurie Keane was the Director of the Mandela Foundation of Australia from 1994 to 1995.
Source: post-parliamentary career section
14.When did Maurie Keane pass away?
- A.15 December 1951
- B.12 October 2014correct
- C.21 September 1923
- D.1 January 1995
Maurie Keane passed away on 12 October 2014.
Source: biographical introduction
15.In which military unit did Maurie Keane serve?
- A.1st Australian Corps
- B.2nd Australian Corps of Signalscorrect
- C.Woronora Infantry
- D.Sydney Water Board
Maurie Keane was a signalman with the 2nd Australian Corps of Signals.
Source: military service section
16.How many children did Maurie Keane have with his wife?
- A.Four
- B.Two
- C.Threecorrect
- D.One
Maurie Keane had three children with his wife, Patricia Lucy Christmas.
Source: family section
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