Jack Keith Murray

Jack Keith Murray (1889-1979) OBE was the Administrator of the Australian Territories of Papua and New Guinea, and foundation Professor of agriculture the Queensland Agricultural College.

Early life

Jack Keith Murray was born February 8, 1889 in Middle Brighton, Melbourne, Victoria.[1] His parents' marriage ended when he was 2 and his mother moved to Sydney with him, working to find the fees to pay his attendance at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill in 1904.[1]

Murray enrolled at the University of Sydney in 1908, and after serving two years as an agricultural cadet at Cowra, he completed his B.Sc.Agric. in 1914 and B.A. in 1915. He enlisted in the Army in 1916 and was discharged a year later. He re-enlisted in the Australian Army Veterinary Corps from 1918-1919. While in Britain, Murray took leave to study at an agricultural college in Scotland, and visited the U.S. before returning to Australia.[1]

Career

Murray was appointed a lecturer in dairy bacteriology and technology at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, before taking up a role as Principal of the Queensland Agricultural High School and College in Gatton, Queensland in 1923.[2] He married Evelyn Andrews in 1924,[3] a fellow University of Sydney graduate,[1][4] before being employed as the first Professor of Agriculture at the Queensland Agricultural College (now known as the University of Queensland Gatton). He worked to improve the standard of education in agricultural science.

During WW2 Murray enlisted[5] and was made Commanding Officer of the 25th (Darling Downs) Battalion in 1940, managed staff training for Northern Command, and rose to the rank of Colonel in charge of AIF training depots. He became Chief Instructor of the Land Headquarters School of Civil Affairs at Duntroon, helping to retrain ex-servicemen after the war. His wife, Evelyn was also involved with teaching at Gatton.

Murray was appointed Administrator of the Australian Territories in Papua and New Guinea from 1945–52,[6][7] and was knighted in 1978, for his contribution to the development of PNG as it moved toward independence. He returned to the University in 1953,[8] and worked steadily on the project that created James Cook University. He was awarded an OBE in 1959.

Legacy

Murray died in Brisbane on December 10, 1979[1] and was survived by his wife.

In recognition of his commitment to Gatton and education, his name was given to the J.K. Murray Library at UQ Gatton. His papers are held at the University of Queensland Fryer Library.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Jinks, Brian. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  2. ↑ "GATTON COLLEGE - THE NEW PRINCIPAL MR. J. K. MURRAY SUCCEEDS - The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1903 - 1926) - 15 Sep 1923". Trove. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  3. ↑ "Family Notices - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 30 Aug 1924". Trove. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  4. ↑ Services, Archives and Records Management. "Early women students - ARMS - The University of Sydney". sydney.edu.au. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  5. ↑ Manager-, corporateName=Department of Veterans' Affairs; jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia; contact=Content. "World War Two Nominal Roll". Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  6. ↑ "Leading Papua New Guinea towards independence A task discharged with distinction and honour - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 29 Nov 1981". Trove. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  7. ↑ "FUZZY WUZZIES SEE NEW INDEPENDENCE - Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 - 1954) - 11 Apr 1946". Trove. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  8. ↑ "Colonel Murray's Retirement - Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) - 15 Jul 1952". Trove. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  9. ↑ University of Queensland Fryer Library (February 14, 2014). "UQFL91 Sir J K Murray Collection Finding Aid" (PDF). Retrieved April 21, 2017.
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