Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 135-137:
Dean William Cashman

Archbishop Duhig had a great admiration for the Priests of the West. One in particular was Fr William Cashman whom he had observed at close quarters during a visit as Coadjutor.

William Patrick Cashman, after studying at Mount Melleray and ordination at All Hallows, in 1899 went with Jerry O'Leary to Vienna for a year to study German and acquire a little European polish. Between the years 1901 and 1910, experience was gained in Toowoomba and Ipswich.

Then it was off as Parish Priest to the vast parish of Charleville-Cunnamulla, 'a parish larger than the whole of Ireland, with an area of 90,000 sq. miles, and its visitation necessitated being absent from home for six months of the year. He was one of the best known priests who worked in Western Queensland. He built a fine church in Charleville then brought the sisters to establish schools in both Charleville and Cunnamulla. He sought out his flock in every township, shearing shed, and drover's camp and was welcomed in every homestead and shepherd's hut. His work in the West was truly inspiring.'

In 1915, his devoted curate, John Kelly, had joined up as an AIF Chaplain. It was his letters home which inspired Fr Cashman to do the same. From 1917, he was on the Western Front in France and again he earned a fine reputation: 'He was just the type of man that the soldiers loved and the battlefield found him in his element.'

When he returned to the diocese, he returned to the West to spend two years at Roma. A visit home to Ireland preceded a year as Chaplain to the Mater Hospital before he went to Toowoomba as Parish Priest of Holy Name until about 1929. He was made a Dean at this time.

In that year he asked to work in the Brisbane Archdiocese and duly took up his last appointment at St Mary's, South Brisbane. He was remembered there as 'being perpetually good humoured' and a zealous director and promoter of the Legion of Mary. It was well known, too, that he 'liked a drop now and then'.

He attended the Golden Jubilee celebrations at Wooloowin of Mons. Fitzgerald. The next day he suffered a heart attack and died in the Mater Hospital. The date was December 12th, 1942.

Before the funeral at Nudgee, Archbishop Duhig paid him an eloquent tribute as already quoted, and included: 'The late Dean was endowed with extraordinary gifts associated with a character that was remarkable in many ways. Mentally alert, quick in movement and full of determination to carry out the ideas which he had conceived, he was always a dynamic force taking up work with boundless energy and overcoming difficulties and obstacles that might have discouraged many another man. Faithful to his daily Mass and spiritual exercises, he was frequently seen on his knees in the presence of his Lord in his parish church.'

Dean Cashman's sister was Mrs E Shannon and it is through that connection that many religious today are related in some way.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Martin.)

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Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rev William Patrick (Dean?) Cashman, died 17 Dec 1942

Born in Waterford in 1876. Seminary training was at Mt Melleray, Vienna and at All Hallows where he was ordained for the Westminster Diocese in 1899. The circumstances of his transferal to the Brisbane Diocese are not known. In the Directories he appears at the Brisbane Cathedral (1901), Toowoomba (1902), Ipswich (1903-1908). He then goes west to serve the outback mission of Charleville-Cunnamulla from 1909 until he enlisted as a war chaplain about the year 1915. He returned to Charleville in 1920. In 1922 he was chaplain to the Mater Hospital, while residing at 'Dara'. Transfer to the Holy Name Parish (Mort Estate), Toowoomba, as the first Parish Priest, took place the following year. Early in the 1930s he was given the important assignment of the South Brisbane Parish. He died at age 66 and is buried at Nudgee. He will always be remembered as being typical of the warm heartedness of Western Queensland.
(Ref. Linane C47)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.

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Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 2: Biographies of Priests on the Australian Scene up to 1900, 1980, pp 30-31:

Cashman, William Patrick, Very Rev., Irish
Typical of Warm-heartedness of Western Queensland
"Getting to know you"; visitation of his people; very kind to the sick, the old, and lonely — and perpetually good-humoured; that would describe the very popular Cashman who was born in Waterford in 1876. Seminary training was obtained in All Hallows, Dublin, where he was ordained for the Westminster Diocese in 1899. The circumstances of his transferring to the Brisbane Archdiocese are not known. In the Directories he appears at the Brisbane Cathedral (1901), Toowoomba (1902), Ipswich (1904) (1905) (1906) (1908). He then goes west to serve the outback mission of Charleville-Cunnamulla from 1909 until enlistment as a War Chaplain about the year 1915. Relinquishing the War uniform he returned to Charleville in 1920. In 1922 he was Chaplain to the Mater Hospital, while residing at 'Dara'. Transfer to the Holy Name Parish in Toowoomba (Mort Estate) took place the following year. Early in the '30s he was given the important assignment of South Brisbane Parish. The full details of his service there until his death on 17 December 1942 are unknown — but we may presume that he never lost the bustling zeal and good humour that he showed in the 'outback' and as War Chaplain. Age at death was 66, and burial took place at Nudgee Cemetery.
(Footprints, Vol. 2, No. 3)
Ref.: Brisbane Cathedral Archives.