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SHEAHAN, Andrew Paul AM (1946- )

SHEAHAN, Andrew Paul AM (1946- )


Geelong College Principal and Australian Test Cricketer, Paul Sheahan, played 31 Tests and three One Day Internationals before retiring from international cricket to pursue his teaching career. He became Principal of the Geelong College from 1986 to 1995 and Headmaster, Melbourne Grammar School from 1996 until his retirement in 2009.

He was elected Vice-President of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) in 2003 and its 26th Chairman in 2011. He has been a member of the MCC Committee from 1987 to 2015 including eight years as a vice-president and four years as president from 2011 to 2015. In August 2017, he was awarded Life Membership of the MCC. He is also a Life Member of the Marylebone Cricket Club, England. His portrait by Robert Hannaford is on display in the Senior School Dining Hall.

Paul Sheahan was an opening and middle order batsman between 1967 and 1974 scoring 1594 runs at an average of 33.91, including two centuries. He made his first class debut in 1965 for the Victorian Sheffield Shield against New South Wales scoring 62 and 5. For Victoria, he scored 3988 runs in first-class matches at an average of 59.52 runs per innings.

An elegant stroke maker and fine cover fieldsman, his highest first class score was 202 for the Victorian Sheffield Shield side against South Australia in 1966. He made his test debut the following year against the touring Indian side scoring 81 and 35 in Adelaide. His first test century was 114 against India in Kanpur in 1969 as a middle order batsmen. He toured England twice, in 1968 and 1972, and South Africa and India in 1969-1970. His form faltered after returning from the South African tour and after the 2nd Test against the touring English side in 1971. However it was as an opening batsman that marked his return as an established Test cricketer, and he scored 127 against Pakistan in the Melbourne Test of 1973. Seemingly on the verge of becoming Australia's regular Test opening batsman, he retired from professional cricket at the relatively young age of 27 to focus on his teaching career.

Paul has also had an active involvement in many organisations including as: Director of the Sir Roberrt Menzies Foundation, Patron of the Anglicare Bequests Program, President of the Lord Taverners Victoria, and Board Member of The Alfred Hospital Foundation. He has also been a Director of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Australia Day Ambassador.

Paul is the son of Old Collegian, John William ‘Jack’ Sheahan, and was a day student at the Geelong College from 1956 to 1964. He had been born on 30 September 1946 in Werribee and had attended Werribee State School but was enrolled at College after the family moved to Geelong. At College he played in the 1st Cricket Team for 5 years from 1960 to 1964. From 1962 to 1964 he also played in the 1st Football Team and was its Vice-Captain in 1963 and Captain in 1964. He was also a member of the Athletics Team from 1962 to 1964 and at Preparatory School he had previously won the E R Sparrow Cup in 1959. Paul became a Shannon House Prefect in 1962 and a School Prefect and House Captain in 1963 before becoming School Captain in 1964. Among the Prizes earned at College were the G W C Ewan Cup in 1961, the Nigel Boyes Trophy in 1963 and 1964, the J H Campbell Trophy in 1963, W H Hill Memorial Cup in 1963, the Geelong College Cup in both 1963 and 1964 and the Principals Prize in 1964. At various times he had been a member of the Athletics, Cricket, Football, Library and Pegasus Committees. He was a student co-editor of Pegasus Magazine in 1964.

After leaving Geelong College, he entered Melbourne University in 1965, completing a Bachelor of Science with a Mathematics Major and a Diploma of Education in 1969 and initially teaching at Noble Park for two years followed by Newcomb Secondary College for one year in 1972. He was then appointed to Geelong Grammar School where he continued teaching mathematics as well as becoming Housemaster of Manifold House. Paul taught at Geelong Grammar until 1983 including an exchange year at Winchester College, England in 1977-78. In 1984, he was appointed Deputy Principal of St Peter's College, Adelaide and in 1986 Principal of Geelong College. He was inducted as Principal of the College at a ceremony in Morrison Hall on 6 May 1986.

His brother, Graeme Sheahan also attended the College. His sister, Mrs Pam Wight, was a teacher in the College kindergarten.

Paul Sheahan AM was inducted into the Old Geelong Collegians' Association (OGCA) Notables Gallery at Geelong College in 2011.

In the Australia Day Honours of 2014 Paul Sheahan was awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia 'for significant service to secondary education as a teacher, and through roles with sporting, charitable and community organisations' . A summary of his achievements and service from the Honours List is as follows:




Sources: Ad Astra June 1986; Ad Astra June 1985; The Age (Melb) 21 June 2008 p10; The Age (Melb) 22 March 2009; gg.gov.au Australia Day Honours 27 Jan 2014; mcc.gov.au/whats-on/latest-news/2017/august.