MACK, Conrad

Family Name:

Mack

Given Names:

Conrad

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

1946

Death-Date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age/ Age Range:

21 years old

Location:

VIC, West Footscray

Occupation:

Minister of Religion

Primary Motivation:

Conscientious Objector-Pacifism Religious

Reason for Court/ Tribunal Appearance:

[1] Application for automatic exemption from military service as a Minister of Religion
[2] Application for full exemption from military service

Court/ Tribunal Name and Location:

[1] Court of Petty sessions, Canberra
[2] Magistrates Court, Melbourne

Court/ Tribunal Hearing Date:

[1] 14 June 1967
[2] 6 June 1968

Court/Tribunal Outcome:

[1] Case adjourned to seek legal advice
[2] Granted full exemption as a conscientious objector

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Conrad Mack was from West Footscray a suburb of Melbourne. He was a Jehovah’s Witness and sought automatic exemption during 1967 from military service on the grounds he was a full-time Minister of Religion. The application for registration as such was lodged at the Canberra Court of Petty Sessions on 16 May 1967.The hearing was on 14 June 1967 before Magistrate Dobson with Mr Wheeler acting for the Minister for Labour and National Service. Wheeler mentioned that Conrad exemption on the grounds he was a minister of religion, Magistrate Dobson remarked that as a minister of religion he had no need to come to court at all. Mr Wheeler said he had come to court on the basis that Conrad had made application as a conscientious objector. In response to the magistrate Conrad stated he had not sought legal advice but had requested his application be transferred to Canberra. It appeared that Conrad was uninformed of the process. Mr. Wheeler stated that Conrad had a better chance for exemption on the grounds of conscientious objection than as a minister of religion. The case was adjourned until 19 June 1967 so that Conrad could seek legal advice. It is unknown if this was undertaken. However, Conrad eventually made application for full exemption from military service as a conscientious objector. His hearing was on 6 June 1968 at the Magistrates Court in Melbourne before Magistrate WM Murray. The magistrate granted his application and Conrad was registered as a conscientious objector.

Confirmatory Sources:Canberra Times, 17 May 1967, p.24.; 15 June 1967, p.12.; Peacemaker, May/ June 1968, p.3.