Vale George Murphy

On Friday 3 November, about thirty choristers took part in a service at Kyneton to celebrate the life of our esteemed Bendigo member, George Murphy. Celebrant Barbara Talbot commenced the service by inviting members of the three generations of George’s extensive family to light candles. Daughters Ann and Lynn lit the candle representing the Past, five grandchildren lit the Present and four great-grandchildren lit the Future, although all their instincts then leant towards wanting to blow them all out!

The choir then sang the lullaby Si Hei Lwli ‘Mabi, one of two tunes specifically chosen by George.

Ann and Lynn described his very interesting life in the UK as well as in Australia and spoke lovingly of their father and of his ongoing influence on their lives.

The choir stepped up again to farewell him with the irreverent but beautiful Sunset Poem.

After readings by grandchildren, there was a wonderful photographic presentation of George’s rich and varied life, accompanied by well-known excerpts from his favourite Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, a few of which he had performed in over the years.

Finally, the choir and the congregation combined to sing George’s favourite hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers, before the family accompanied the casket outside to the hearse.

On his very recent trip back to the UK, with Ann and Lynn, they had managed – along with his great great-nephew, a Liverpool supporter – to see his beloved football team Everton beat Bournemouth.  Amongst other admirable traits, George was generous enough to choose Pool’s anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone as his Leaving Song, this time sung by his favourite Welsh bass-baritone, Bryn Terfel.