He was the son of a railway porter, and was educated at Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham.
[citation needed] He worked as a railway engineer and hotel manager and owned substantial suburban property.
In November 1949, Jim Harrison resigned from the Legislative Council to successfully contest the federal seat of Blaxland at the 1949 election.
Joel was unsuccessful but received 23 votes and it became common knowledge within the Labor Party, although never officially stated, that 4 members of the party; Geraghty, John Seiffert (Monaro), Roy Heferen (Barwon), Fred Stanley (Lakemba) had voted for him.
Geraghty and the other disendorsed members received support from the Caucus and a severe rift developed between the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties.