Micheal O’Shea: Tributes flow for lifelong member of Australian Workers’ Union, prominent shearer

A dedicated shearer, who was also a lifelong member of the Australian Workers’ Union, has died at the age of 90. He has been remembered as a “force for good”.

Mick O'Shea has died at age 90. Photo: Supplied.

A prominent shearer in the state’s west and a lifelong dedicated member of the Australian Workers’ Union Michael O’Shea has died at the age of 90.

Mr O’Shea, who was known as Mick, died on February 29 2024 and had been a shearer since the age of 15, after the death of his father, who then served more than 75 years for the Australian Workers’ Union.

Union member Jack Ayoub told The Dubbo News the pair had crossed paths on multiple occasions as Mr O’Shea was his mentor in the union who also had connections to his great-grandfather’s property.

“The best way to describe Mick’s personality is that of the great conciliator – he was drawn to be a member of the union and a member of the Australian Labor Party through deep faith and that faith is his Catholic faith,” Mr Ayoub said.

He said there is “great sadness” in Mr O’Shea’s passing, but there is also “a great sense of honour” knowing he lived dedicated to his values.

Mick O'Shea. Photo: Supplied.

“He was fundamentally a force for good in everything he did,” he said.

Mr O’Shea became a shearer in Coonamble at the age of 15 after the death of his father forced him to provide for his mother Lilian and siblings Noreen, Patricia and Brian.

He embodied hard work as he travelled across the state to shear sheep and continue to support his family.

Mick and Shirley O'Shea. Photo: Supplied.

At 16 Mr O’Shea joined the union, becoming an organiser from 1974 to 1993 and later serving as the NSW branch secretary from 1993 to 1996.

Mr O’Shea eventually moved to Mudgee where he met his wife Shirley and remained “deeply in love and committed to each other” until his wife died in 2019.

The pair had six children, including Michelle, Micheal, Kel, Wayne, Paul and Gerard, and remained in the town for 35 years before moving to Dubbo.

After retiring in 1996, Mr O’Shea volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army.

A spokesman for the union said Mr O’Shea lived a “full and dedicated” life to his family, the union, his faith and a life dedicated to the service of others.

“Mick was an honourable man who embodied everything that is good about this country,” the spokesman said.