William Murray: 1882-1977
William (Bill) Murray was born on 17 April 1882 to parents John and Emma. He was the eldest of 8 children. He married May (“Maisie) Anne Geer in 1920, and they had 2 children: David Stuart Murray, born in 1920; and Barbara Ruth Murray, born in 1922. Maisie died in 1949, aged only 54.
Bill was a celebrated Australian athlete who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden.
He joined the Melbourne Harriers when he was a young man. He started off in long distance running events and is credited with winning the first ever marathon run in Melbourne in 1910.
He took up race-walking when asked to enter a race due to a poor field. He went on to win, and over the next two weeks he won two more events, even beating the then Australian record holder.
In 1911 he broke the Australasian record for the one mile which had stood for 15 years and he also became Victorian champion at the three-mile event.
In 1912 he won both events in even faster times, and that same year the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association (NSWAAA) acknowledged his world record in the 3500 metre event in a time of 14:49.4.
Later in 1912 he travelled to Sweden to compete in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. He was entered into the 10 km walk event, but due to some over-zealous judging he was one of three athletes in his heat to be disqualified.
On his return to Australia he carried on winning, including the three-mile Victorian Championship three more times. He also carried on walking for most of his life.
In 1922 he was one of the foundation members of the Victorian Amateur Walkers Club and 8 years later in 1930 he became president of the Melbourne Harriers.
He also carried on working, and by 1971, at the age of 90, he was Australia's oldest practicing solicitor, still walking to work four times a week.
He died on 12 November 1977 aged 95.