Sir Murray Louis Tyrrell KCVO CBE (1 December 1913 – 13 July 1994) was the Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia for a record term of 26 years, 1947–73, in which time he served six governors-general.
Born in Kilmore, Victoria, he was educated at Orbost and Melbourne High Schools. He married Ellen (Nell) Greig on 6 May 1939. They had one son and two daughters.
He served for over 45 years in the Australian Public Service. For most of this time he was assistant secretary or personal secretary to a succession of Ministers including the Prime Minister, Ben Chifley.[1]
Murray Tyrrell succeeded Rear-Admiral Sir Leighton Bracegirdle as Official Secretary to the Governor-General, William McKell, in March 1947.[2] He also served McKell's successors Sir William Slim, Lord Dunrossil, Lord De L'Isle, Lord Casey and Sir Paul Hasluck. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1959, during Sir William Slim's term.
Murray Tyrrell had a small but pivotal role to play in the establishment of the Australian Conservation Foundation. The ACF began in the second half of 1964, after a suggestion was made to Tyrrell by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh while visiting Australia in 1963. He voiced an idea that Australia could become involved in conservation by establishing a branch of the World Wildlife Fund. Tyrrell convened a meeting that came to the conclusion that, if a conservation body was to exist, its efforts should be directed at conserving Australia's own heritage. From this the ACF emerged.[3]
Murray Tyrrell was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1968, during Lord Casey's term. This was awarded for personal service to the Queen, and was not on recommendation from the Prime Minister. He had been attached to the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace from May to August 1962.[4] After his retirement in 1973, which occurred during Sir Paul Hasluck's term, he was succeeded by David Smith.
Sir Murray was an Alderman of the Queanbeyan City Council 1976-1980. In 1977 he was named the Australian of the Year[5], jointly with Dame Raigh Roe.
He lived at 11 Blundell Street, Queanbeyan, in an old heritage cottage still called "Sir Murray Tyrrell's Cottage".
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Edward 'Weary' Dunlop |
Australian of the Year Award 1977 Served alongside: Dame Raigh Roe |
Succeeded by Alan Bond and Galarrwuy Yunupingu |