OBITUARY PATRICK (VINCE) MURRAY

SHARED FROM THE IRISH ECHO

Patrick Vincent (Vince) Murray
1940 – 2011

Vince Murray presented Ireland Calling on Sydney's 2RDJ-FM.

Vince Murray passed away peacefully at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital on Friday, December 23, 2011. He had suffered a massive stroke in early November and never recovered. He was 71.

Born in Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon, he had a younger sister Mary, who passed away in 2011 after Vince had returned to Sydney following a visit home to see his family. He is survived by one brother, Harry, who lives in Galway.

Vince suffered a very early setback in life when at the age of 16, his mother passed away.

In the early ’60s, a period of high migration from Ireland, Vince hit for England.

He worked in various jobs, from nursing to the reception desk at a major psychiatric hospital. Vince’s management skills were recognized at an early age and he became assistant manager of a rehabilitation hostel for the mentally ill in Essex.

During this period, Vince had a passion for radio and being a broadcaster. He would spend many hours making mock radio programmes.

In 1973, Vince emigrated to Australia, settling down in Sydney.

He worked at Osti’s fashion house before moving on to assistant manager for the NSW Housing Commission. He was quickly promoted to manager of the Waterloo complex in Sydney and was next transferred to the Riverwood office as property manager.

Vince’s passion for radio broadcasting continued and was very much part of his other life away from work. In 1975 he, along with three others, formed radio station 2RDJ-FM.

In the following years, after many submissions to the broadcasting authority and trial broadcasts, 2RDJ-FM acquired a licence to broadcast on community radio. Vince was up and going and soon hit the airwaves.

He was very proud of his Irish heritage and along with the author, founded the programme Ireland Calling. As the producer and presenter, Vince’s passion for Irish culture was paramount to the programme.

He was the voice of the Irish in Sydney for more than 25 years.

Vince continued to present Ireland Calling up to his retirement in 2010. During his years, he served a term as chairman and secretary of the board. In recognition of his service to 2RDJ-FM, Vince was appointed its first patron in 2010.

I would like to thank the Irish-Australian community for the support and compassion they extended to Vince in his final weeks and days. To Fr Tom Deveraux for the sacramental support and to Ken Maurer (Maurer & Bracks funeral directors) for his advice and assistance.

Thanks to the staff at Bankstown-Lidcombe for the care they extended to Vince. His family in Ireland spoke of the comfort they felt in the knowledge that Vince was not journeying alone in his final days and hours.

It was Vince’s wish to be taken back to Ireland and laid to rest with his family in Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon.

* A memorial service to celebrate the life of Vince will be held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Rockdale, at 7pm on January 20, 2012.

http://www.irishecho.com.au/2012/01/13/voice-of-irish-sydneysiders-goes-quiet/15069