George Thomas Gahan

Cr. George Thomas Gahan JP
Mayor George Gahan in 1965 with First Lady of Prahran Janet Irene Gahan née Sheppard, Herald & Weekly Times Limited portrait collection
Born	(1912-07-21)21 July 1912 Inglewood, Victoria, Australia
Died	24 June 1980(1980-06-24) (aged 67) Prahran, Victoria
Resting place	Springvale Botanical Cemetery
Title	Mayor of Prahran
Term	1965-1966, 1970-1971
Political party	Australian Labor Party, Independent
Board member of	Victorian Amateur Boxing Association

Cr. George Tomas Gahan JP (21 July 1912 – 24 June 1980) was an Australian politician and Victorian amateur boxer. He was born in Inglewood, Victoria to Benjamin Edward Gahan and Emma Gahan née Walker. The Gahan family later moved to the Melbourne suburb of Prahran where George became a building contractor. At a young age George began training as an amateur boxer. In his mid 30's Gahan attempted to join the Australian Army and defend his country in World War II. Despite being rejected by army due to a duodenal ulcer, Gahan applied a second time, only be to turned away again. This tenacious streak proved to be a valuable attribute as George again turned his focus towards amateur boxing, winning a Yarraville boxing competition and in 1949 in the final of the Welter division was beaten by the Australian champion Bill Seewitz. George had his last fight at 42 years of age when he was stopped in the 2nd round by his opponent 20 years his junior. George's tenacity and fighting talent soon shifted from the boxing ring to the political arena, becoming known as Prahran's George the Giant Killer. From 1957 to 1959, George Gahan was the president of the Prahran-South Yarra branch of the Helping Hand League of Victoria; now known as Inclusion Melbourne.

Councillor

Mayor

Determined to fight for a seat on the City of Prahran council to improve its service to the people of the area, George Gahan became the Labor Party candidate for the South Yarra Ward in 1954. His campaign slogan was Vote for George the Giant Killer – Vote George Gahan 1. Former mayor of Prahran Fred Farrall recalled:

Up until 1953 all appeared quiet on the Town Hall front ... But one morning when I was walking to the railway station along Osborne Street on my way to work, I noticed a Holden utility advertising a chap named George Gahan as the Labor candidate for the South Yarra ward in the forthcoming elections. It attracted me because of the working Vote for George the Giant Killer – Vote George Gahan 1. I thought that was great, and made up my mind there and then, or by the time I reached the station, that I would offer the 'Giant Killer' my support.