Cobbitty resident and Bankstown Sports Club president John Murray hopes his Australia Day honour inspires others
Saving Narellan’s Studley Park Golf Course from being sold off, securing the land for Cobbitty Cricket Oval and fundraising for medical research are among the highlights of long-time Cobbitty resident John Murray’s decades of community work.
Macarthur
Don't miss out on the headlines from Macarthur. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SAVING Narellan’s Studley Park Golf Course from being sold off for housing, securing the land for Cobbitty Cricket Oval and fundraising for medical research are among the highlights of long-time Cobbitty resident John Murray’s decades of community work.
Mr Murray, 82, served on Camden Council for two terms between 1989 and 1997 and during his time as a councillor negotiated with then prime minister Paul Keating to stop the golf course from being sold off for housing on the fairway.
His negotiations resulted in a 99-year lease for the golf course so that it could continue to be enjoyed by the community.
“I was also the mover and shaker for Cobbitty Cricket Oval and every time I go and see kids play there I feel very proud,’’ he said.
Mr Murray, a grandfather of six, has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) as part of the Australia Day honours list.
The OAM is for his service to the community of Bankstown, but his list of community work also shows his dedication to the Macarthur area.
The Bankstown Sports Club president for the past 12 years, Mr Murray is a Cobbitty Bush Fire Brigade life member and he served as a volunteer and former president for 20 years from 1988 to 2008.
He also devoted 15 years to fundraising for research into Rett Syndrome for the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
“When one of my granddaughters was born with a rare genetic post-natal neurological disorder, Rett Syndrome, both my wife Lily and I devoted a considerable effort to help in raising in excess of $1.5 million for research into this issue,’’ he said.
He also organised fundraising events for leukaemia research at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital from 1991 to 2003.
Born in Bankstown, but living at Cobbitty for more than 50 years, Mr Murray said he was honoured to be awarded the OAM.
“I hope it inspires somebody else to get off their backside and do some volunteering and help people around the place,’’ he said.
Mr Murray said he has been volunteering since age 7 when he started raising funds for the Red Cross during World War II.
“I followed the neighbourly tradition of helping other people,’’ he said.