Tributes flow for Central Qld icon Geoff Murphy, dead at 82

Tributes are flowing for Central Queensland icon, businessman and builder Geoff Murphy, who has passed away.

JM Kelly managing director and founding director Geoff Murphy

Tributes are flowing for Central Queensland icon, businessman and builder Geoff Murphy, who passed away on Sunday night.

Beef Australia, where Mr Murphy served as chairman for about nine years, shared the tragic news on social media on Tuesday of the stalwart’s passing.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Geoff Murphy, who has recently passed,” the Facebook post read.

“Geoff was an industry pioneer and passionate beef supporter, life member and longest standing Beef Australia Chairman from 2003 to 2012.

“Rest in peace, Geoff.”

Gavin Zielke, who worked for Kawana Kitchens under Mr Murphy’s JM Kelly Group of companies for the best part of 30 years, said Geoff was way more than just a boss.

Back L-R:- Gavin Zielke, Lloyd Bendall and Jeff Gallagher. Front L-R:- Belinda Zielke, Maria Bambrook and Janelle Reid from Kawana Kitchens at the Best In The Business awards evening. Photo Janie Kayes/The Morning Bulletin.

Mr Zielke said Geoff’s son John Murphy called him with the devastating news on Monday morning, saying Geoff had passed in his sleep.

“I was devastated - I just didn’t know what to say, I was just so upset,” Mr Zielke said.

“My wife Belinda and I had a morning tea planned with Geoff in the next two weeks.

“We do a morning tea with Mrs Murphy and Geoff every Christmas, and we do once or twice a year.

“And three months ago, thank God, I went to his house and I spent four hours with him.

“Just four hours talking about Jordan and Macey (Mr Zielke’s daughters), Belinda of course, and the whole lot.

“We just spent four hours together talking.”

Geoff and Noreen Murphy.

Mr Zielke said Geoff was a “tough as nails human being” who was a father figure to him.

“Geoff was a father to me - straight out.

“He was a mentor and a father figure to me and I will say that in front of anyone.

“He guided Belinda and I through life, with different things that he gave us advice on.

“But probably the biggest thing is that, I just know how much Geoff did for the Central Queensland community - things that were never spoken about, that weren’t advertised, just the things that he did from the massive heart that he had.”

John Murphy and Geoff Murphy.

Mr Zielke said while Geoff effectively disappeared from public life after the collapse of his JM Kelly Group of Companies, people close to him would never forget what he did for them and the Central Queensland community.

“People like myself, we just do not forget what Geoff did.”

As well as spending a lot of money out of his own pocket on the CQ NRL Bid in a passionate effort to get Central Queensland a licence in the National Rugby League competition, there were other generous sides to Geoff that many people did not see.

“Geoff also did a lot for charities, and individuals who worked for him,” Mr Zielke said.

“He went above and beyond for individuals, above and beyond for individuals, absolutely.

“I know - I just know some things that he did. I know what he did for Belinda and I - way outside of his job role, way outside of what he was paid to do.

“Just him having a heart to say ‘stop, I will help you with this’.

“And he did that for many people.

“No-one ever advertised it, no-one ever talked about it, it was always pretty confidential.

“Yes, you worked hard for him and you did long hours, and you had to produce, so if you ticked all those boxes then he would, without a doubt, help families - just families, people who were doing it tough, people who lost love ones, and charities.

“There’s charities that Geoff contributed to that no-one ever put on the front page of The Morning Bulletin, or that no-one ever talked about.”

Mr Zielke said Geoff just “loved Rockhampton”.

“And no matter what you or I said, or what anyone said to him, he believed that this town deserved an NRL team.

“And it’s not just Geoff, it’s his family also who have done so much for people and that’s who I think about.

“And Geoff was a huge family man - they will be devastated. He was the patriarch, he was Mr Murphy.

“I’m devastated - I’m sitting here, 55 years of age, and I don’t even know how to feel because I’m not going to have those conversations with Mr Murphy anymore, and that makes me sad.”

Brisbane Broncos junior development welfare officer Steve Parle, who hailed from Rockhampton and worked closely with Geoff on the CQ NRL Bid, said he admired his drive and passion.

Former Rockhampton teacher Steve Parle.

“Geoff was an icon in Rockhampton and it’s always sad when you lose icons,” Mr Parle said.

“I knew him pretty well for most of my life in Rocky but certainly through the CQ bid.

“Even then he wasn’t a young man but the energy he had was enormous.

“I really admired his vision - and he put a lot of effort and his own money into that vision.

“Through no fault of his it didn’t happen but I think the groundwork is there and in time, it well could.”

Mr Parle described the Murphy family as stalwarts of Park Avenue.

“Park Avenue always seemed to have a very special place in Rocky in that if you came from Park Avenue you really let people know and Geoff was always very quick to let people know that he was a Park Avenue person and very proud of it,” he said.

“He was a colourful character who lived life to the full.”

Former North Queensland Cowboys chief executive Denis Keeffe, who was CEO of the CQ NRL Bid, said he was “shattered” to learn about Mr Murphy’s passing.

Former CEO of the CQ NRL Bid Denis Keeffe and chairman Geoff Murphy.

“I just had so much love and respect for that guy, he was just amazing” Mr Keeffe said.

“I actually loved the guy because of what he stood for - he was passionate and he rubbed some people up some ways, but gee, he had the right heart.

“He just lived for his family and CQ - that was his deal.

“And we had some funny times together - flying in that aeroplane of his.

“And of course, he was a non-drinker and he loved his Broncos, and I was a drinker and I loved the Cowboys so we had an opposition sometimes but we laughed.

“But my admiration for the guy and what he stood for was just off the scale, you know.”