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.
