West (Cr) Murray Melville
| Type of person | Individual |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1910 |
| Place of birth | Gawler |
| Date of death | 1991 |
Murray west was elected as Gawler Councillor for Evanston Ward 1947 to 1951.
Murray West was born in Gawler, the fourth child of Frederick and Ellen West (nee Horsell).
Murray’s maternal Great Grandfather, Robert John Horsell, was one of the early pioneers of South Australia. He arrived on board the “Coromandel” at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island on the 26th of December 1836 with his wife Sarah and one child. His paternal Grandfather, Thomas West, arrived at Port Adelaide on board the “Poictiers” on the 13th November 1848.
Thomas West married Lydia Jacobs on the 16th April 1849 and the family moved to Gawler around 1856. Descendants of their family still live in the town today, one hundred and fifty six years after arrival. Murray’s father, Frederick, the thirteenth child, was born on the 29th June 1873 and married Ellen Horsell on the 28th May 1898.
Murray attended the Public School at Gawler being awarded the Qualifying Certificate on the 20th December 1922 having obtained 516 marks. Although he showed some scholastic ability he was taken out of High School and commenced employment in the office of Dawkins Timber Merchants and Ironmongery store on the corner of Murray and Finniss Streets on the 25th February 1925. Economic conditions were hard and in 1930 as soon as he reached the age where he had to be paid an adult wage he was put off work.
The Depression in the early 1930’s made finding a job almost impossible so he opened a small deli near the North Gawler Railway Station. During lunch times he would drive to the local Primary School to sell his wares. Due to the prevailing economic times the business was not successful.
To further his education Murray attended Technical School during 1930/1932 where he obtained Honours in Bookkeeping and Credits in Accountancy
In 1934 he obtained employment with Robinson’s Britannia Foundry in Barnet Road, Gawler. The business was originally founded in 1883 however in 1935 it was sold to E Anders and Sons of Freeling. Murray was to remain with the firm working his way to foreman of the factory before taking over as Manager in 1955 following the death of Mr Cyril Anders. He continued in that position until 1977 nearly 22 years after his appointment.
On the 23rd September 1939 Murray married Melva Gordon. It is a part of the family history that the only time she was referred to as Melva was at her wedding. For all of her life she was known as “Toots”.
Not content with working and raising four children Murray contributed a considerable amount of his time to the community of Gawler. These activities included:-
- Following the end of the Second World War Murray was presented with a Certificate signed by the Commissioner of Civil Defence and the Premier and Minister of Civil Defence for his service in the Civil Defence Force of South Australia as a Driver, Road Transport Branch
- From 1947 to 1951 he held the position of Councillor for Evanston Ward on the Corporation of the Town of Gawler. He resigned in 1951 after being nominated by the Australian Labour Party to contest the seat of Gawler at the forthcoming State Elections. He was subsequently persuaded to withdraw his nomination by his wife after she had enjoyed a meal at the Globe Hotel (now Kingsford) with the wife of the late Clyde Cameron MP. Mrs Cameron suggested that she try to stop him from standing for Parliament because if he did she would “never see him”. As it turned out Murray became so strongly involved in the community that she did not see much of him anyway. The late Jack Clark filled the vacancy for the ALP and won the election convincingly.
- On the 12th of July 1948 Murray was appointed as an Ambulance Officer in the St John’s Ambulance Brigade Gawler Division. On the 17th November 1971 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11, Sovereign Head of the Order bestowed on him the Honour of Admission to the Grade of Serving Brother in the Order of St John for his contribution. It total he spent in excess of 30 years as a St John’s Brigade Volunteer reaching the positions of Assistant Superintendant and finally Superintendant.
- Although not a sporting person Murray held the position of President of the South Gawler Football Club 1948 to 1950. He also carried out the duties of the Secretary/Treasurer of the Gawler and District Football League for four years, retiring in 1954.
- Murray held the position of Chairman of the Gawler High School Council from 1951 to 1967 as well as Joint President of the Gawler High School Parents and Friends group from 1953 to 1959.
- In 1958 Murray was appointed Secretary of the Gawler Branch of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd fellows Friendly Society of South Australia. He held the position for a period in excess of 30 years.
- In view of his pending “retirement” from Anders Murray was inducted as President of the Rotary Club of Gawler in July 1976. In total he served the Rotary Club as a member for a period in excess of 25 years.
- Other organisations to benefit from Murray’s community spirit included the Gawler Branch of the Red Cross, 10 Years as Treasurer of the Royal District Bush Nursing Society and a member of the Gawler Swimming Pool Committee set up to build the new facility in what was known as Essex Park.
- In his latter years he enjoyed the company of the RSL members where he acted as assistant Treasurer and was also a member of the Probus Club.
Murray’s wife “Toots” passed away on the 4th October 1989 just 10 days after their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Murray passed away two years later on the 12th October 1991. In his Obituary, published in the Gawler Bunyip on the 23rd of October 1991, he was described as “A quiet achiever”.
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