John Murray (Queensland politician)

John Chester Murray, MBE (31 December 1915 – 25 January 2009)[1] was an Australian politician.

John Murray MBE
Member of the Australian Parliament for Herbert
In office 22 November 1958 – 9 December 1961
Preceded by	Bill Edmonds
Succeeded by	Ted Harding
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Clayfield
In office 1 June 1963 – 11 February 1976
Preceded by	Harold Taylor
Succeeded by	Ivan Brown
Personal details
Born	John Chester Murray 31 December 1915 Malvern, Victoria, Australia
Died	25 January 2009 (aged 93) Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s)	Ruth Florence Stanton-Cook (m.1944)
Occupation	Soldier, Grazier

Murray was born in Melbourne, the illegitimate son of a member of the prominent Chaffey family of Mildura, but raised in Sydney. He was educated at The King's School, Parramatta until forced to withdraw due to the Great Depression, after which he worked as a jackeroo, miner and drover for several years. In 1939, he enlisted for service in World War II with the Second Australian Imperial Force, serving with the 2/13th Battalion, 20th Brigade. He served in North Africa, becoming one of The Rats of Tobruk, and later in New Guinea and Borneo, rising to infantry section leader and intelligence officer. He leased his first grazing property, "Gidgee" in far western New South Wales in 1946, and bought his first property, "The Orient" in north Queensland, in 1951. As a grazier, he was a strong supporter of introducing Brahman cattle to north Queensland.[2]

In 1958, Murray was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the member for Herbert, having received the endorsement of both the Liberal Party and the Country Party. Once elected he sat as a Liberal.[3] In federal parliament, he sat on the defence and foreign affairs committees.[2] He was defeated in 1961, but in 1963 was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland as the member for Clayfield, where he remained until 1976.[4]

Murray died on the Gold Coast on 25 January 2009.[1]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
2. "Tobruk, cattle and bearpits". Sydney Morning Herald. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
3. "New M.P. To Join Liberal Party". The Canberra Times. 29 November 1958. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
4. Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Archived from the original on 20 July 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2008.