Mahony, Francis William (1905 -1982)

Will Mahony original cartoon artwork.

Will Mahony was born in London, son of the Australian artist Frank Prout Mahony. He came to Sydney in 1914 and began his career there on Smith’s Weekly, to which he subsequently contributed cartoons while working as a commercial artist between 1922-27. In 1928-30 he contributed cartoons to the Sydney Evening News. In 1931-32 he was political cartoonist on the World while teaching at Sydney Technical College. Mahoney began working as the political cartoonist for the Sydney Labour Daily from 2 February 1937. The Labour Daily changed its name to the Daily News in 1938, and was taken over by the Daily Telegraph on 27 July 1940. Mahony remained there until he was sacked in 1945 after refusing to sign cartoons attacking the Unions. He told the editor of the Telegraph that the paper should take responsibility for them. His replacement George Finey left soon after also but there are differing accounts over whether Finey was fired or chose to resign. Later he drew political cartoons for the Sydney Daily Mirror (1950-53), followed by a stint as a staff artist for Australian Consolidated Press (1954-62). Then he once again taught art at Sydney Tech. and contributed cartoons as a freelancer.