KOUCAN, Michael

Family Name:

Koucan

Given Names:

Michael

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

Unknown

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably single

Age Range:

Early 20s

Location:

NSW

Occupation:

Unknown

Primary Motivation:

Draft Resister, anti-conscription

Reason for Court Appearance:

Refused to obey a call-up notice

Court Name and Location:

Unknown, Unknown

Court Hearing Date:

1972

Court Outcome:

Sentenced to 18 months Long Bay jail

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Michael Kohan was from NSW and was opposed to the National Service Act 1964 (NSA). Accordingly, he refused to register for national service and he refused to attend the mandatory medical examination under the NSA. It is unknown if he was prosecuted for these offences. Michael continued his non-compliance and refused to obey a call-up notice, issued during 1972. He was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to 18 months at Long Bay jail. Apparently, Michael was not known to the Sydney Draft Resister Union until his imprisonment. He was released on 7 December 1972 when the newly elected Whitlam Labor Government suspended the NSA and released all those serving a prison term for breaching the Act.

Confirmatory Sources:

Canberra Times, 7 December 1972. p.9.

Tharunka, 12 September 1972, p.11; 3 October 1972, p.7; 18 October 1972, p.6.

Tribune, 17 October 1972, p.2.