Skip to content | Change text size
 

Rugby club stalwart honoured

16 August 2006

Professor Keith Murray, from the Department of Chemistry, has received the Monash University Rugby Club's inaugural life membership for his continued commitment to the club.

Professor Keith Murray, from Monash's Department of Chemistry, has been awarded the first life membership of the Monash University Rugby Club.

His involvement with the club started in 1967 and will no doubt continue long past the recent dinner held in his honour, where club president Mr Adam Toomey presented Professor Murray with his membership.

Professor Murray, who has worked in the Chemistry department since 1966, has also been honoured for his academic work, receiving a Vice-Chancellor's medal and a Burrows medal from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.

During 11 playing seasons with Monash, Professor Murray usually filled the half-back position. He kicked the winning goal in the 1975 third grade premiership match.

He deferred his involvement with the club when he retired from playing in 1977, but with his son playing in the team from 1989 to 1992 was keen to become involved again.

Professor Murray was club president from 1993 until 2004, and is well known for standing up for the rights of his players -- mainly Monash students.

He remains involved with the club as a touch judge as well as in various other match-day roles, and is often found on the sideline encouraging the team.

Professor Murray said his love for both the game and the club motivated him to remain involved. "I've been involved since 1966, and it's great -- it keeps me involved with young people," he said.

In addition to receiving life membership, Professor Murray has been honoured with a perpetual cup in his name. As incoming president, Mr Toomey has instituted the Keith Murray Cup, which is presented each week to a player for "a good debut, a stunning try or great teamwork".