Hundreds of family members, friends, colleagues, mates and members of SSBRC gathered at the Reef that Rules on Sunday 12 June to pay their respects and honour and celebrate the life of the great Dr John Murray.
As you would expect for a man loved and admired far and wide, the massive turnout was both a solemn and uplifting occasion.
The Club Patron and senior Sponsor was part of the Club’s DNA for many years, and his contribution to a better club was immense.
The farewell service at the Shoes Pavilion attracted people from across Sydney, from interstate and both North and South Coasts.
John was a beacon for so many people during a life of 68 years. One of the best, humble and giving blokes anyone could ever meet and be friends with.
Everyone reached out with broken hearts to John’s wife and soul-mate Karan, his daughters Tara and Amber and his grandchildren Adam and Claudia.
And not surprising, given the influence of a bloke who gave more than he took, a guy who made friends not enemies, a guy who was the Dentist of Choice, who played Rugby for Australia, who always had a smile for everyone…the Mr Cool of the Reef…the weather and surf conditions for the Great Farewell were perfect.
Some 100 surfers from all over the place paddled out for the traditional Circle of Love in memory of John, talk of his many attributes and contributions, talk and joke of his influences in sport and business, and dwell on his kindness, happy demeanour, his many connections from surfing to medicine to philanthropy.
Those same surfers then caught waves for over 90 minutes in his honour, with friendly and happy banter and a flurry of best intentioned dropping-ins!
The ceremony was finalised with the planting of a young Frangipani tree by Shoes’s Matty Cooke, right behind the concrete seating block, with the hope that it will grow and prosper to provide an endearing and lasting memory of Dr John.
Later the South Cronulla Bowling Club was full to capacity to formally say farewell to John at an extremely emotional wake.
Stories and statements on John’s mighty life, his love for his wife and family, his adventures in the surf and snow, his expertise in dentistry, his giving nature were talked about for hours.
During those proceedings, club member Simon Boylan announced a new perpetual trophy for the Shoes Club in John’s Name.
John will be remembered forever!
Image and video courtesy of Ian “Macca” McDonald
Just found out that John has passed what a shock I’ve known him for a short time but he made a great impression on me will miss him so much rip my friend
I have known John for 40 years, I used to work at the Beash Hut and one day I needed a good Dentist Paul Hugs said I now a good Dentist Dr John Murry and so the story goes. My husband and I have just found out. My Heart goes to his wonderfull family. What a truely wonderful person he was. I will miss him very very much.