Plates, ill, p.170.non-fictionA combination of memoir and biography of John Brosnan who was a catholic priest and Chaplain of Pentridge Prison, Melbourne. He was closely associated with the last prison hanging in Victoria.john brosnan - biography, priests - australia

This is the biography of Father John Brosnan (1919-2003) who was well-known as the Catholic Chaplain at Pentridge Prison in Melbourne for 30 years and the person who attended the hanging of Robert Ryan, the last man hanged in Victoria in 1967. Father Brosnan was born in Keilambete and spent his early years in Cudgee, attending Cudgee State School. This book is of interest because it tells the life story of Father John Brosnan who was born in the Western District and spent his early years at Cudgee, 15 kilometres from Warrnambool. Father Brosnan achieved fame as the Catholic Chaplain at Pentridge Prison and as the priest who campaigned to save Ronald Ryan from hanging and who was with Ryan when he was hanged. This is a soft cover book of 170 pages. The cover has an image of Father Brosnan in sepia tones set against a background of the front of Pentridge Prison in dark blue tonings. The title of the book is in red, black and yellow tones. The back cover has a photograph of Father Brosnan and the Pope. cudgee, father brosnan, pentridge prison, warrnambool history