Kevin Murray QC papers, 1957-2013

MLMSS 9575

fonds

1957-2013

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Ephemera, Photographs

1133804

0.80 meters of textual and graphic material (5 boxes)

Kevin Ross Murray was born at Casino, NSW, on 17 June 1930, the first child of William Henderson Murray and Josephine Agnes (Ford).

He was educated at Swansea Public School (where his father was a teacher), at the selective Newcastle Boys' High School and the University of Sydney (BA 1950). He studied Law from 1949 to 1956, but did not complete the degree. While completing his articles with the firm Abram Landa, Barton & Company in Bligh Street, Murray undertook the Barristers Admission Board course and was admitted to the New South Wales Bar on 29 November 1957.

On 3 September 1955 at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, Murray married Noela Joan Drury. The marriage was dissolved on the 6 August 1978. He married Lynette Jean Shannon on 31 October 1987 at his property, 'Norwood' at Goulburn, where he raised wethers and cattle.

Murray had enlisted in the CMF's Sydney University Regiment (SUR) on 14 March 1949, a year after the volunteer Citizen Military Force in Australia was re¬formed. He had been a sergeant in his school's cadet unit. (Murray's father had served in the regiment's predecessor, the Sydney University Scouts, in 1921 while attending teachers' college.)

Murray was commissioned as a lieutenant in December 1952. In 1953 he went on full-time duty for two years with the Australian Regular Army to help ease the officer shortage during National Service and hoping to serve in Korea. The Korean War ended in July 1953, but Murray gained valuable experience in man management and in administration as a full¬time soldier' before returning to the SUR in June 1955.

On 1 July 1964, the newly promoted Lieutenant ¬Colonel Murray began duty as commanding officer of the regiment he had joined as a private in 1949. On 30 June 1973 he was appointed chief of staff (CMF), 2nd Division. On 1 July 1974, promoted temporary brigadier, he took command of the 5th Task Force, serving in that role until 1976 when it was disbanded as a result of the reorganisation of the CMF, which was renamed the Australian Army Reserve. Promoted brigadier as of 26 January 1976, on 1 December 1976 Murray became commander of the Royal NSW Regiment, which had all Army Reserve infantry battalions of the 2nd Military District [NSW] under its command except the SUR and the University of New South Wales Regiment, which were in the Training Group.

In January 1971 Murray was awarded the OBE for his work in building up the strength of the SUR and promoting interest in military service in other universities and colleges, and appointed a queen's counsel on 14 November 1973.

Murray died at home on 31 March 1991, survived by Lynette, two daughters and a son.

(Source: Summary of article in Barnews, Winter 2013. http://www.forbessociety.org.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Murray-QC.pdf)

BOX 1

Manilla Folders

Spa, Mr & Mrs K.R. Murray, 35 Georgina Street, Newtown.
Army Reserve.
Murray family.
Purchase from Culpitts.
Bulls sale of Aylmerton, Lot 1, Lot 2.
Purchase of GM.
Northern Territory ventures.
Staples affair.
K.R.M. Financial Planning.
K.R.M. Holdings 1981/82.
K.R.M. Barristers Superannuation.
1/Murr Master file.
Purchase of Norwood.
Murray/Hilton, re: B.M.A. House.
K. Murray 1986/87 Income tax.
Parish of Rhyanna, Norwood.
Chandler, sale of Alpine, GM.
Sale to Coterill.
K.R.M. Property file.
Army, ex festive Lente 1977.
General correspondence military.
Sir Roden Cutler Soldiers Club.
K.R.M. in confidence, Parliamentary Submission.
DEFCOM Pty Ltd.
SUR History.
Refrigerator, freezer construction.

BOX 2

Manilla Folders

Noah Freiman, Visit to Australia.
Victor Windeyer, Honorary Colonels Award.
Army correspondence.
Army Reserves v’s Regulars – Ministerial.
Confidential – Report on the Citizen Military Forces and Reserves.
October 31, 1987. Wedding arrangements, acceptances, cards for wedding between Kevin Murray and Lyn Shannon.
Military Matters.
60th birthday arrangements for private ball at the Park Plaza. Acceptances, speeches, greeting cards.
3 miscellaneous folders, untitled.

BOX 3

1957-1988. Dinners, Parades, Special Functions, mostly for the Sydney University Regiment and other military groups. Includes invitations, menus, and programmes. (2 folders)

1988-1990. Dinners and parties held at Kevin Murray’s home. Invitations, acceptances and thank you letters from family and friends.

1980-1991. Miscellaneous papers including Field Message Note Books; letters concerning the Sydney University Regiment and other military groups, Defence Reserves, family history.

6 black and white photographs taken in 1988 of Kevin Murray, Leslie and Sandra Annetts in North Western Australia. ln 1988 Murray acted for the Annetts family at the WA inquest into the deaths of the teenage jackeroos James Annetts and Simon Amos whose bodies had been found near their abandoned utility in the Great Sandy Desert in April 1987.

BOX 4

February-March 1991. Get well cards and letters.

March 1991. Cards and letters to sympathy to Lyn Murray.

Miscellaneous papers 1982-1990, Army Reserve, Court cases, renovations to Chambers, Real estate matters, Parliamentary submissions.

BOX 5

Published Material.

Brig. K.R. Murray, COMD 5TF, TRG Inspections. 1975-1977. Copy inspections reports.

Journal of the Royal United Services Institute of Australia. Vol. 3, no.2, November 1980.

Chief of the General Staff’s Exercise. Information brochure, 1981.

A brief for Major General K.R. Murray, OBE ED. Commander, 2nd Division Field Force Group, 1981.

Reserve Component Programs, Fiscal Year 1988. Report of the Reserve Forces Policy Board.

Nyngan Flood Disaster, April-May 1990. Recovery report to the New South Wales Premier by the Premier’s special co-ordinator, Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair.

Submission to Defence Sub-Committee of Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence & Trade. 1990.

Barnews. Winter 2013. Contains biographical information on Kevin Murray, pages 68-74.

Copyright status:: In copyright
Approval for reproduction required: This collection has multiple rights owners
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Kevin Murray