Background
Sheehy was born at Gympie, Queensland, the third of six children of Irish-born parents Jeremiah Sheehy, goldmine manager, and his wife Kate, née O"Driscoll.
Sheehy was born at Gympie, Queensland, the third of six children of Irish-born parents Jeremiah Sheehy, goldmine manager, and his wife Kate, née O"Driscoll.
Sheehy was educated at the Christian Brothers" College, Gympie. Sheehy studied accountancy in Brisbane and joined the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock as a clerk in January 1911. Sheehy was Secretary of the Queensland Wheat Board from 1920 and Secretary of the Queensland Council of Agriculture from 1926 to 1938.
In 1928 Sheehy also became Secretary of the Queensland Butter Board, a position he combined with that of State Secretary (1928 to 1934) for the (Thomas) "Paterson Plan", which levied butter production to pay a bounty on the exported product.
In 1937 Sheehy became General Manager of Australia"s Commonwealth Dairy Produce Equalisation Committee Limited, retaining the post until his death. In 1943 the Australian Government appointed Sheehy controller of dairy products under the New Food Plan, and in 1952 he was appointed Chairman of the Australian Dairy Produce Board.
Soon after being reappointed Chairman of the Australian Dairy Produce Board by the Australian Government in June 1960, Sheehy died on 31 August 1960 of a ruptured duodenal ulcer. Following a Requiem Mass at Street Stephen"s Cathedral he was buried in Nudgee Cemetery.