John Muir Murray - Tribute Blog

John Murray, late December 2015. Photo Jim Claven

John Muir Murray
Loving husband, comrade, fighter for workplace safety and social justice
8 December 1944 – 10 March 2016

Australia and Scotland has lost one of its compassionate sons. A few weeks ago we lost John Murray. A former metal worker at The Age, John was a social activist, trade unionist, amateur comedian and singer – but most of all a great friend and comrade to many.

A young John (back right) with his cousins in Pollock, Glasgow. Photo from Roberta Muir.

John Muir Murray was born in Glasgow on 8th December 1944, the first child of Bernard "Bertie" Joseph Murray (born 1 December 1912) and Annie McPhee Muir (born 19 April 1915). Four years later - 18 April 1948 - John was joined by his younger brother, Alan.

Born amongst the hard streets of working class Glasgow, John took the road of many a young man of his time, starting his working life as a fitting and turning apprentice at Mavor & Coulson in Bridgeton, one of the big engineering firms of the city.

Alan and John (right) Murray, Glasgow c 1954. Photo Roberta Muir.

Advertisement for Mavor and Coulson where John was an apprentice.

A worker - maybe even John - at work gear cutting and testing in Mavor & Coulson's factory in Bridgeton, Glasgow.

It wasn’t long before he was standing beside his fellow workers against unfair conditions. He took part in the first apprentices strike in Scotland. He was active beyond the factory gates, a member of the Labour Party’s Young Socialists, taking part in many of the struggles of the day. If there was a rally against nuclear weapons or racism, John would be there.

John (left) soon after his arrival in Australia, with Uncle Angus Muir and his niece Roberta Muir, Sydney 1969. Photo from Roberta Muir.

Soon John was travelling the world, working as an engineer aboard a merchant ship. He sailed the Atlantic, along the coasts of America and beyond. And not before long, his ship sailed to Sydney. It was here that John connected with his relatives who had emigrated to Australia earlier and he found work at Clyde Steel in Marrickville.

Coming to Melbourne in 1972, John worked as a maintenance engineer in various firms until finally settling in at Melbourne’s The Age as a fitter and turner, maintaining the paper’s huge printing machinery. John would work here for over 25 years, until his retirement a few years ago.

Workers Health Action Group poster. State Library of Victoria.

John’s concerns for his fellow workers saw him play an active role in the metal workers union, both at the workplace and on its central councils. He was particularly concerned to ensure a safe workplace before such concerns were commonplace. Injuries at work and the lack of fair compensation was something that had to be fought for – and John did just that. He was active in the Workers Health Action Group and one of the first occupational health and safety representatives.

Mary and John Murray a few years ago. Photo from Roberta Muir.

And it was here in Melbourne that John met the love of his life, Mary Therese Reed, a young nurse. They had a shared interest in health and safety, and of course, politics and music. They would be married in 1971 and make their home in St Kilda. Mary was 27 and John 26 when they were married.

His activism in his union was just a part of John’s humanity. He was active in local affairs and politics. A long-time member of the Labor Party and its Socialist Left group, he door knocked the houses of St Kilda over many elections supporting its candidates, including former Attorney General and St Kilda MP, Andrew McCutchen. He even stood once for St Kilda City Council.

Later in life, disillusionment would lead him to resign his Party membership. But wherever he was, local Labor candidates could rely on his active support. Election campaigns and parties will not be the same without John, his singing and warm personality. John joining in with former Labor MP Theo Sidiropoulos with The Internationale will stay with us for ever.

Running through John’s life was always a concern for his fellow man. It might be a workmate denied workers compensation or fighting for local residents. He was not scared to speak truth to power as the famous dictum states. He was always a source of measured and considered advice, about the world or the troubles of life. What shone through all this was his strong moral conviction to help others, near and far.

The Glasgow Celtic's famed "Lisbon Lions" were never far from John's thoughts.

Like most Scots he loved football and his beloved Glasgow Celtic. Any criticism of Celtic would be answered by calls in defence of the Lions of Lisbon! And when he came to Australia in the early 1970’s, he added the local Prahran Celtic to his pantheon of football heroes. Even a few days before he left us, he’d be quick to respond with a witty reply to any slight on his dear Bhoys!

John's beloved Corries.

Music and singing were a big part of his life. Mary and John would travel regularly to folk festivals across Australia, to Port Fairy and beyond. A party wasn’t a party without John belting out a great folk song – whether the Bandiera Rossa, Jamie Foyers or Robert Burns’ The Parting Glass.
As a tribute to John you can listen to one of John's favourite folk singers - Dick Gaughan - singing Jamie Foyers by clicking here.

There was always a welcome at John and Mary’s home in St Kilda. Afternoon’s sitting around the kitchen table; time meant nothing as John, Mary and their friends enjoyed each others company, talking of the issues of the day and of how to right society’s wrongs. After his mother died in 1975, John's father "Bertie" moved to Australia and lived with John and Mary until he passed away in 1989.

John retired and he and Mary moved to Hervey Bay a few years ago. It was great news that Mary had established contact with her son she had been forced to relinquish in the 1950s. John and Mary - and their new family – enjoyed a few years together. And grand-children too.

John's Mansong Choir.

Tragically John lost his soul mate in Mary four years ago after a long illness. Mary would have been glad to know that John made lots of new friends in Hervey Bay. His active participation in his Mansong Choir brought happiness to many of the elderly and other community organization functions. He will be missed terribly by them as well.

In the last few years, John was able to enjoy his retirement, enjoying the friendship of his many local friends, the odd trip overseas and periodic visits to Melbourne to re-connect with his many old friends from the union movement, Labor Party, folk and football scene.

On these all too brief visits, we would be reminded of how much we missed his company. And how we enjoyed it when he re-newed our friendship. Each time, it seemed that we’d never been apart. He was also there to lend an ear, to share in everyone else’s little or bigger troubles, to share a joke and a laugh. And maybe even sing a song, over a warming single malt. We always felt lighter, happier and better for his calling.

Sadly John died on 10 March 2016 at his home in Hervey Bay, Queensland. A celebration is planned for 1pm Thursday 24th March, J.Kirk and Sons, 224 Urraween Road, Urraween, Hervey Bay. A wake will be held for family and friends from 1pm, Sunday, 3rd April 2016 at the Caulfield RSL, 4 St George's Road, Elsternwick.

John also loved the auld folk song. The Parting Glass. He of course could always sing it himself but he did love the version by Sinead O'Connor - you can click here to listen to it.

For all of us who will miss John, his friendship, his compassion, we might have some consolation in the last words of that lovely song of parting that were often sung by John:

"Oh, all the comrades e'er I had, They're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e'er I had, They'd wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot, That I should rise and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call, Good night and joy be with you all."

Here’s tae ye John, you’re sorely missed. Rest in peace.

Jim Claven was a long-term friend and comrade of John. He compiled this tribute with the support of many of his friends and family, in particular Joe Adams, Graham Lacey, Peter Muir and Roberta Muir.
If you have any corrections or additional comments, please email me on jimclaven@yahoo.com.au