title: Frank Kirwan
text: # Frank Kirwan
  
  Frank McLeod Kirwan (23 October 1937 – 28 October 1976) was an Australian politician. Born in Norseman, Western Australia, he was educated at state schools and the School of Mines in Norseman, Western Australia, after which he became an electrical fitter. He was an official with the Electrical Trades Union and was also a Methodist minister.
  
  In 1969, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for Forrest, defeating Liberal minister Gordon Freeth. He was only the second Labor member ever to win the seat. His victory was part of an 18-seat swing that nearly made Labor's Gough Whitlam Prime Minister.
  
  He held the seat until his defeat in 1972 by Liberal Peter Drummond, even as Labor finally ended 23 years of Coalition rule.
  
  ## Death
  
  Kirwan died in Wooroloo in 1976.
  
  