National NAIDOC - Award Winner

Arthur Murray - Lifetime Achievement Award

Arthur Murray is best known for his campaign to stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. He became a national figure in the fight for justice to stop the deaths after losing his son Eddie in the 1980’s. His is a heroic story, a story of the determination of one man to find the truth of what happened in a Wee Waa police cell in 1981.

Arthur Murray wasn’t only concerned with his own situation, his own grief – he wanted answers to all the deaths. The establishment of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody was partly due to his campaigning and lobbying.

Throughout the Commission, Arthur Murray was a rock to the families called to give evidence. His support was invaluable, as was his perserverance and dignity. Since the Commission he has continued to work with the New South Wales Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Watch Committee and in assisting families obtain justice.

At 63, from Narrabri in New South Wales, in the 70s he was an activist for better working and living conditions for Aboriginal people.

Born on the Brewarrina mission, Arthur was adopted by the Murray family and brought up on the Collarenebri reserve.

Leaving school at 13, he worked as an agricultural labourer and gave up a promising boxing career to support his wife and children.

He is a father of 12 and grandfather to many. Among the many roles he has held are: volunteer for the Aboriginal Legal Service, leader of the Wee Waa Aboriginal Advancement Association and Aboriginal Education Assistant.

He was involved in the “Brewarrina Riot” after the death in custody of Lloyd Boney, and as a result began a seven-year long series of court appearances. He was gaoled for nine weeks, during this time. Eventually all the charges were quashed because video images of him during the disturbance clearly showed him trying to resolve the conflict.

Arthur Murray believes that a united Australia is the only way true Reconciliation can be obtained, and social justice is improved.