Lake Tyers grandfather and former football player Murray Bull, ‘Pop Murray’, dies at age 78

A kind, caring East Gippsland grandfather and former football player has been remembered as having an “infectious smile” who loved spending time with his family.

Lake Tyers grandfather and former football player Murray Bull has been remembered as having an “infectious smile” and loved spending time with his family. Picture: GoFundMe

An East Gippsland family man and former football player, who was the youngest in a family of 21 siblings, has been remembered as having an “infectious smile” and always standing up for what he believed in.

Lake Tyers man Murray Bull, died on February 9, aged 78,

Mr Bull had six kids and 26 grandkids and was the husband of Elvie.

His granddaughter Nicki Hood said her grandfather loved everything about the community and his mob.

“He always stood up for what he believed in — like his culture and his connection to community,” Ms Hood said.

“It was very important to him, his family was his main priority and he loved his community and his culture.”

Ms Hood said Murray was one of the board members at the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust and later became the manager.

Mr Bull was a board member and later became the manager of Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust. Picture: Supplied

She said Murray’s loves were being with his family and always being “out and about” at the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust.

“He loved going on family holidays, that was one thing you know, and loved spending time up in the NSW coast,” Ms Hood said.

“You know, always outdoors, doing something, whether it be fishing.”

Ms Hood said Murray was a well known footy player in the East Gippsland region, having played for the Swan Reach Football Netball Club and the Bruthen Football Netball Club.

She said her grandfather was a kind and caring man.

“(He) always had a smile on his face and he would never walk past any community member, he’d always stop and have a yarn,” Ms Hood said.

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“Everyone can remember his infectious smile, like that was his trait, his big happy smile.

“You couldn’t get a more loving person — I put up a Facebook post recently and all the comments said he was a staunch leader.

“He fought hard for his people, I remember going up to Sydney in 1988 when the (Australian Bicentenary) was on and I was marching as a six-year-old alongside my grandfather.

“That was my first exposure to activism and he was the one that instilled it in us today. So even us grandchildren are still fighting the same fight that he fought back then.”

Ms Hood said Murray was part of the stolen generation, but it had made him stronger as a person.

“He never let that sort of thing bring him down,’’ she said.

Ms Hood has created a GoFundMe page for Murray to raise funds to give him the send off he deserves.

“Pop was a well-known community member, but more importantly a well respected and loved Elder in East Gippsland,” she wrote.