Honour for RSL stalwart

By Nathan Johnston
NOBLE Park RSL president Gordon Murray was inducted into the RSL Licensed SubBranch Hall of Fame on Saturday night.
He was one of five inductees from Victoria’s 75 subbranches honoured at a gala function at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Mr Murray was recognised for his work in taking the RSL to the community.
During his sevenyear term as president, the Noble Park RSL has become one of the leaders in the state for its welfare programs for veterans and the community.
“We are a welfare organisation,” he said.
“The veterans are our top priority, but we’ve changed our charter to allow us to help the needy in the general community.
“But this award’s not for me. It’s for the committee and the volunteers who put their time in to the RSL for the veterans and the community. Without the support of the committee, I would never have received the award.
“We have 200 Vietnam Veterans here and they’ve also helped out immensely, as have the ladies auxiliary and our many volunteers.
“My wife Lynette has been a great support.
“She’s my carer. She drives me everywhere, helps me with reading and doing the things that I can no longer do.”
Mr Murray was declared legally blind in 1996. His failing eyesight led to an early retirement, but it also began his serious involvement in the RSL.
A Noble Park boy since 1956, he joined the Navy when he was 17 and served in Indonesia, Borneo, Malaysia and Vietnam.
On his return from Vietnam, he became manager of the Dandenong swimming pool before working at the Sandown racecourse.
He has been an RSL member since 1975 and said he had received great support from the organisation.
“I’m a Noble Park boy and I also wanted to get the RSL involved in the community.
“We have representatives on the Chamber of Commerce, the Drug Action Committee, we support schools and sports groups. We’re not just a pokies venue. The money people spend here goes to help the veterans and the community. That’s what I’ve pushed for since I’ve been on the committee.”