P001326 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human McCarthy, G.J. updated 2024-10-16 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P001326b.htm person Leahy Michael James MBE AACR2 26 February 1901 7 March 1979 Place of Birth Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia Place of Death Zenag, Papua New Guinea Explorer 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. 1930 1930 Career position - First European (with Michael Dwyer) to visit the Gafuku valley of New Guinea 1931 1931 Career position - Stakeholder of New Guinea Goldfields Ltd. 1933 1933 Career position - Expeditions through New Guinea to areas including the Wahgi-Nebilyer divide and Mount Hagen 1934 1934 Career position - Expeditions throughout New Guinea and climbed Mount Giluwe, the countries highest peak 1935 1935 Career position - Went to England for the Royal Geographical Society hearing over the discovery of Mount Giluwe and other landmarks 1936 1936 Award - Murchison grant, Royal Geographical Society 1948 1948 Award - US Medal of Freedom - bronze palm 1952 1952 Award - Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) 1959 1959 Career position - Honorary member of the US Explorers' Club 1971 1971 Award - Explorers' medal, US Explorers' Club 1983 1983 Career position - First Contact the award-winning film of his travels produced

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VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Leahy, Michael J (1901-1979)

Trove

 'Leahy, Michael James (Mick)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Leahy, Michael James (Mick) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book Section: Leahy, Michael James (1901-1979), explorer Griffin, James Leahy, Michael James (1901-1979), explorer Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1986 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 10: 1891 - 1939 Lat-Ner Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle 34-36 Michael James Leahy - Records National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection Michael James Leahy - Records MS 384 1930 - 1934 Diaries, photographs and speeches 1930-1934. 7 p.