Sunshine Coast Daily former advertising manager Murray Jones dies in hospital

A former Sunshine Coast Daily advertising manager is being remembered as a “terrific bloke” whose staff “loved him” following his death after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Murray Jones, the former advertising manager of the Sunshine Coast Daily with Peter Richardson, long-time columnist.

A past Sunshine Coast Daily advertising manager, well respected boss and colleague, beloved husband, kind hearted friend, and local legend has sadly died in hospital this morning.

Murray Jones died at Sunshine Coast University Hospital at 1am, Thursday, February 13.

Mr Jones has been remembered as one of the local legends of the Sunshine Coast Daily newspaper.

He worked for a Northern Territory newspaper before moving to the Sunshine Coast about 40 years ago. He worked for the Sunshine Coast Daily for about 15 years before retiring in 2002.

His wife Peg Jones died a few years ago. Mr Jones had been living at Buderim Views nursing home since her death.

He’d been battling Parkinson’s disease in his last few years.

According to a good friend and previous colleague of his, Peter Owen, Mr Jones was a “terrific bloke” who was “very well regarded in the business community”.

“Murray was a terrific bloke – a thorough professional who knew everybody in town and was liked and respected by them all,” Mr Owen said.

“Ad managers and editors aren’t supposed to get on, but Murray and I became good friends, and he was terrific to work with.

“He actually knew the importance of newspapers and would do whatever he could not to interfere with good editorial presentation. He’d even move ads to accommodate a big story upfront.

“His staff loved him and he was good fun to be with.

“He and I played many games of golf together during, and after, our time at the Daily.”

Historic: Sunshine Coast Daily Newspaper Advertising manager, Murray Jones. Photo Sunshine Coast Daily Archives

Mr Jones was also a longtime member of Headland Golf Club.

“When he retired from the Daily they put on a dinner for him and the room was packed with clients, friends and Coast business people,” Mr Owen said.

“After his retirement he dabbled in producing golf scorecards for local golf clubs.”

Don Hunt, 77, another long-time member of the Sunshine Coast Daily advertising team, said he had known Mr Jones for about 40 years.

“I met Murray 40-odd years ago at the paper at Ipswich … we’d bump into each other when working and we developed a friendship there,” Mr Hunt said.

“As time went on we went to the same conferences in Brisbane and Sydney and shared a lot. We had a lot of phone contact, personal contact, and friendship contact.

“After 17 years in Ipswich I came to the Sunshine Coast and Murray offered me a job transfer to work at the Daily in 1989 in the sales department.”

Murray Jones, the former advertising manager of the Sunshine Coast Daily.

Mr Hunt said his mate was instrumental in running the ship that was the Daily back then.

“He was one of two salesman appointed at the very start when John Jones was the daily manager. That’s when they decided to make it a daily newspaper,” Mr Hunt said.

“Murray had fantastic relationships with the sales team, editorial team, administration team and production departments. He was held in very high esteem and was a great support for various general managers.

“It was at a time when there was no internet and one radio station. The Daily was the media that people looked to on the Coast.”

Mr Hunt said he would remember his dear friend for his kindness.

“He was very approachable and very interested in all of his staff. When I came over and joined the team, him and his wife would invite me up to their house for meals and invite me to play golf with him frequently,” he said.

“From a personal point of view our friendship developed more and more as time went by.

“He was very fair minded and easy to get along with.

“He was a great friend.

“I miss him but under the circumstances he’s gone off to a better place.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Daily former advertising manager Murray Jones dies in hospital