Additional information for Chapter 23 – Exiled to Daru and out to the Fly River)

 

Colonel JK Murray served as Administrator of the Australian Territories of Papua and New Guinea from 16 October, 1945 as PNG returned to civil control after the war, to 1952. He was appointed by the Labour Minister for External Territories, Eddie Ward, and was replaced by Sir Donald Cleland. He was no relation to Sir John Hubert Plunkett Murray (addendum 45 nor Hubert Leonard Murray CBE (addendum 46).

 

Sir Jack Keith Murray was born in 1889 in Brighton, Victoria. The article “JK Murray” dated 13 September, 2007 sourced from the website www.pngattitude.com/2007/09/the-great-j-k-m.html states that “his parents separated when he was two and his mother supported him by working as a domestic servant.“

 

“He graduated from Sydney University just after the start of World War 1 with a BScAgr, BA and, after service with the Sydney University Scouts, a diploma of military science. In 1916 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and, after service in France and post-war agricultural studies, he was demobilised in 1920.

He was appointed principal of the Queensland State Agricultural College (Gatton) in 1923 and became a Professor of Agriculture at the University of Queensland in 1929. He served as a Colonel in the army in World War II and was commanding officer of the 25th (Darling Downs) Battalion in 1940.

 

Murray dealt with problems of reconstruction, paying special attention to the plight of the people in villages devastated by war. Each year he spent months visiting outlying districts, talking with village leaders and missionaries, encouraging his staff, and restoring confidence in the Australian administration.

 

In pursuit of a 'new deal' for Papuans and New Guineans, Murray supervised the establishment of village courts, village councils, cooperative societies, extension courses in agriculture, aid posts, training of indigenous medical officers and orderlies, and moved the workforce from an indenture system to one of free labour. The local white establishment found Murray's attitude to Papua New Guineans scandalous. When the Murrays invited Papuans to functions at Government House, whites boycotted them and Murray was dubbed 'Kanaka Jack'.

Murray lived in retirement at St Lucia, Brisbane. He was a member (1953-68) of the senate of the University of Queensland. In 1959 he was appointed OBE, and in 1978 he was knighted (for his contribution to the development of PNG). He died on 10 December 1979 at Jindalee.”  In recognition of his commitment to Gatton and education, his name was given to the J.K. Murray Library at University of Queensland Gatton. His papers are held at the University of Queensland Fryer Library.