Graeme Murphy
Melbourne Rowing Club (VIC)
1948-2024
The following obituary written by President Felicity Nutter was published on 3rd December 2024 to Melbourne Rowing Club members.
It is with great sadness that we share news of the loss of Life Member and Patron Graeme Murphy.
Graeme joined the club as a Schoolboy rower in 1968 after his brother John joined in 1966 and his passion, service and rowing excellence has known no bounds in his 56 ongoing active years of membership. His love of the sport was turned to all areas of the club; he is a multiple Past President, multiple Past Captain, multiple Harry Yoffa Best Club person, multiple ETJ Kerby Men's Champion Rower, champion cox and coach.
When Graeme joined in the 60’s, there were no women in the club and the rowing men had the run of the place, along with possums and riverbank vermin seeking refuge in the sheds. Graeme, or “Spud” as he was known, was proactive and unrelenting in his efforts to recruit members and share his passion with all comers, personally coaching and cajoling others to experience his love of the sport. Many of our current members, including some of our eldest, were personally chaperoned into the club and have lifelong memories of their introduction to the club with Graeme’s guidance.
In later years, Graeme suffered some challenging illnesses but would not be diminished. Undeterred in spirit, he could often be seen at the landing with single scullers tethered to a rope, teaching the basics of the technique to anyone who showed interest. Known for his sharp observations and unrelenting passion, Graeme had a robust conviction for the best interests of the club and its legacy.
As Graeme’s on-water activities wound down his love of the club was directed to our heritage. Graeme was most loyal and passionate about preserving our story and sustaining our club for generations to come. Graeme personally scanned every Annual Report he could find and loaded them to our website while he and his wife Vicki continued to keep our pre-and-post renovation clubhouse in good order. Graeme could often be found with Vicki in the clubhouse, enjoying a coffee and the river activity from the balcony. Most memorable were the loaves of toast, the plates of goodies and other treats that would appear on the bar, notable not for themselves, but for the care, thought and generosity that Graeme and Vicki continued to perpetuate for others at the club, this latter winning Graeme his most recent Harry Yoffa Best Club person award.
Graeme will be most fondly remembered as a passionate, tireless and committed part of our history, for his contributions, devotion and commitment to Melbourne Rowing Club. He was 76 and is survived by his wife Vicki, his children Ashleigh and Rohan and their mother Trish.
Extracted by Andrew Guerin
December 2024