Murray enrolled at the University of Sydney in 1908, and after serving two years as an agricultural cadet at Cowra, he completed his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1914 and Bachelor of Arts in 1915. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1916 and was discharged a year later. He re-enlisted later that year and served with the Australian Army Veterinary Corps in France from 1918 to 1919. While in Europe, Murray took leave to study dairy science at an agricultural college in Scotland, and visited the United States before returning to Australia.[2]
During the Second World War, Murray enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force[7] and was made Commanding Officer of the 25th Battalion, Darling Downs Regiment 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 to 1952,[8][9] 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,[10] and worked steadily on the project that created James Cook University. He was also active on the University of Queensland's Buildings and Grounds Committee, was on the board of Cromwell College and was a member of the University Union House Committee which oversaw the Student Union.[6] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1959. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science in 1967, became Emeritus Professor in 1975, and was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1978 New Year Honours. He was also active in the Scout Association of Australia.[6]
Legacy
Murray died in Brisbane on 10 December 1979[2] 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.[11]
References
Notes
^His Honour was a prefix title given to Jack Murray upon his status as an Administrator of an external Australian territory. Consequently, The Honourable is a courtesy title retained for life for a former administrator.
^Her full name was, Evelyn Ernestine Pritchard Andrews.
^Jinks, Brian. "Murray, Sir Jack Keith (1889–1979)". Cultural Advice. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2021 – via Australian Dictionary of Biography.
^ abcdeJinks, Brian. "Murray, Sir Jack Keith (1889–1979)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
^ abcGregory, Helen (1987). Vivant Professores. St Lucia: University of Queensland Library. pp. 108–112. ISBN0908471092.
^Manager-, corporateName=Department of Veterans' Affairs; jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia; contact=Content. "World War Two Nominal Roll". Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)