Leo Moloney Obituary, Death –Leo Moloney, a QIA Life Member, passed away on Saturday, May 20 at the age of 94 at the St. Vincent’s Care Services nursing home in Carseldine. Since 1964, Leo has been a contributing member of the Association. Between the years 1980 and 1984, he was on the QIA Committee. Between 1985 and 1987, he was a Trustee, and between 1988 and 1993, he was Vice President of the Association.
In 1992, the Association honoured him by making him a life member of the organisation. In 1994, when Pat Brennan was elected president, he submitted his candidature for the office. Leo’s membership on the Committee came to an end after Pat was elected, but it did not mean he stopped actively participating in the life of the Association.
Within the QIA, he was interested in a wide variety of things.
His daughter, Kate Hartley, is still an instructor with the QIA Dancers to this day. Both he and his wife, Margaret, who survives him, were highly involved in the QIA Dancers for an uncountable number of years. He was the QIA nominee for the All Nations Song and Dance competition, which was held as part of the Warana Festival, for a good number of years.
His life’s work was dedicated to compiling and preserving the history of the Irish in Queensland, as well as the history of the QIA. He served the Association in the capacity of librarian and historian on occasion. He was a contributor to a number of historical journals and magazines, writing a variety of essays. His documents include a projected history of the Queensland Irish Volunteers (who created the QIA), which is provisionally titled Wild Geese and Tropic Sun.
This history is among his papers. On Tuesday, May 30, at 11 am, his funeral will be place at St. Colomba’s Church, which is located at Kedron Brook Road in Wilston. If you are a member of the Association and would like to attend, you are more than welcome to do so. Graham Moloney was the one who contributed both the words and the picture.
The Queensland Irish Association has suffered a significant setback due to the loss of Leo. His understanding of our past was astonishing, and he was a pleasant presence around Tara House, always willing to strike up a conversation. His family was also actively involved in the QIA community in many different ways.
