30.07.1941 – 09.05.2026
Murray was one of a kind. A loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, and fiercely loyal friend. He had a rare gift for connecting with people of all ages and walks of life, treating everyone as an equal and with genuine warmth. Whether sharing a laugh, swapping a joke at his own expense, or simply passing time in cheerful conversation, he had a way of making people feel at ease.
Murray loved his farm, happiest spending a weekend outdoors working alongside close mates. Resourceful to the core, he had a talent for improvising a repair with materials at hand. His mind was forever ticking over whilst solving problems and generating new ideas; sometimes well into the night.
Murray had a deep love for his family and a great sense of fairness and loyalty. He packed his 84 years full of hard work, achievement, fun, and adventure. Murray is remembered with profound love and will not be forgotten by the many lives he touched.
A private cremation has been arranged and all the details of Murray’s celebration of life are included below.
Date:
Location:
The Baths Middle Brighton, 251 Esplanade, Brighton VIC
Please click here for the live streaming.
Notes:
Please share your messages & memories of Murray in the Guestbook below
Good afternoon Helen,
I was planning to attend today’s Service for Murray up until this morning when I came down with a very bad cough that prevented me from attending.
However, I was able to watch the On-Line Service and complete the message that I was intending to send to you, Jason and Tim
and their families from Janette and myself.
We were both very sorry to hear of Murray’s passing. I had known him since joining AWTA in early 1963 and Janette had known since the late 1970’s when she also joined AWTA in Fremantle.
My joining AWTA coincided with a senior Managers’ Conference at which Murray and David were in the Authority’s two senior positions.
Murray quickly demonstrated the importance of his role and how well he conducted himself in it, both in Australia and in Japan – Australia’s main customer country at the time.
1963 was a year in which Murray played a key role in AWTA’s involvement in the adoption of new technology for the selling and shipping of wool at the time. That technology continues to be the principal methodology used for selling and exporting Australian wool today, and AWTA staff continue to play a key role in its adoption.
Dear Helen, Jason, Tim and family,
I had the privilege of working with Muz at AWTA from 1988 until his retirement and the pleasure of enjoying quite a few wines with him thereafter. Murray was an entrepreneur and a visionary for the testing of wool. His ideas and decisions had a huge impact on the development of the company and should always be remembered. I am sorry that I cannot be with you today to celebrate his life, due to family illness, but I shall raise a glass to Murray tonight.
The Tonks remember meeting Jason on the first day at Grammar when announced that any boy who wears shorts on the first is going to be my friend!!!
Our thoughts are with you all today
Murray Mansfield will be fondly remembered by the Walsh family as a gentleman, innovator, and astute collector. He knew the value of family and was a generous provider -foremost as a husband & father. As an uncle, he actively stayed in touch with his extended family of nieces, nephews and his cadre of Blundell 1st cousins. His recorded success in the Australian Wool industry carried over into his retirement as a farmer and speculator – with him again proving to be very successful at both. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all who
knew him …. including me. Vale
Penned by Jeff Walsh on behalf of one of those 1st cousins, my father Jock (dec.) & wife Lyn Walsh
Dearest Helen, Jason, Tim and family,
Thinking of you all at this really sad time and sending condolences, love and hugs.
Unfortunately I can’t attend Murray’s service tomorrow but Tim and Lisa will be there on behalf of the Connelly’s.
I hope that all the happy memories of a life with Murray always brings a smile.
Lots of love
Sue Connelly xxx
Helen, Jason and Tim, I have known Murray since the early 1950’s when our little gang of five roamed the streets of Gardenvale. We graduated to the Facebook of the day – the Saturday night dances in church halls!
A lifelong friend. Rest in peace Murray. Ken Brown.
Our condolences Helen, Jason and Tim. Ken and Irene Brown.
Dear Helen, Jason, Tim and family and friends who were close to Murray. Warm greetings from myself and Mum in Queensland. Please know that our thoughts and hearts are with you at this difficult time. I wish our introduction could have happened under different circumstances and that I had got to know Murray much earlier in life. Reading through the guestbook messages it is clear that Murray was a wonderful, caring person who touched many lives. Mum has very fond memories of spending time with Murray and the other cousins around Brighton in earlier years. These memories appear to be much more firmly etched into Mum’s heart than many other times in her life which have since faded. I am so grateful that Murray reached out in recent years through Jeff Walsh to make contact with us to find out how Mum has been travelling. We were able to have a great conversation by phone where Mum and Murray got to share many of their recollections of happy times together. Mum and I very much appreciate the opportunity to attend the live streaming of Murray’s memorial service. Thank you kindly and take care all.
I first met Murray when I applied for the job of laboratory manager at his kensington laboratory. The interview was successful and he offered me the job. But on the same salary as I was on at my then job at the MMBW. I nted this out, he went away to consult wih Sas Douglas and came back with a much improved offer which included a car. When I started I discovered the car was a holden utility which suited me at the time me as I was in the throes of a massive home rennovation.
On my first day Murray gave me bouk to read. “You can learn all about wool testing.” It was a series of courses delivered at the school of Wool & Pastoral Sciences, UNSW. Many of the senior managers at AWTA were graduates. Murray never had a degree but was enormously proud of the fact that his knowledge of wool came from practical hands on experience.
At the end of the day we adjourned to the conference room to review the day. It was then that he revealed Melbourne was $250,000 behind budget and he expected me to fix it. Meetings in the conference room were a regular occurrence, particularly on a Friday afternoon.
He was a risk taker. After AWTA was privatised and the the lump sum payouts to staff finalised, at another conference room meeting he announced he had purchased a property, Dunhelen which backed onto Greenvale Reservoir, which via my previous job with the MMBW I was very familiar having sailed out in a tinny to collect water samples for testing, and having been involved in developing the metering system for the fluoridation plant. “This investment will make me or break me”, he announced. As we all know it made him in more ways than one.
Murray was a caring and thoughtful boss. After another meeting in the conference room where the turps flowed freely he judged I was not in a fit state to drive home. He arranged with Helen to receive aa guest for the night at Dunhelen and made sure I rang my wife to let her know (I remeember she wasn’t very happy) but he thereby ensured I eventually arrived home safely.
He was a staunch advocate for the wool industry, he and I spent many enjoyable lunches and dinners with his Japanese friends, all of whom admired him greatly.
As a boss once he trusted you he gave you all the rope and support you needed to get things done. I have many stories to recount about that.
A great boss and a good friend. Thanks Muzza. You will be missed.
Helen, Jason, Tim and families,
Please accept my sincere condolences for your sad loss.
When I joined the Australian Wool Testing Authority in 1965, Murray had already spent 2 difficult years helping that organisation stay alive. I soon realised that this early experience had strengthened his innate resilience, ability to make decisions, and commitment to succeed. Together, we managed to stabilise AWTA’s financial viability, invest in new technology, and build a strong team for the future. In total, we worked closely together for 32 years, marked by dedication to serve the wool industry, constructive debates at management conferences and having fun with the team.
Among many, perhaps his greatest contribution to the Authority’s growth was his establishment of strong relationships with the Japanese and other East Asian wool industries, based on trust and respect.
Vale Murray (Muz).
It was shocking to learn the passing of Murray. I know Murray since early 1990’s. Although we worked in the different organisations but the common task has made us travelling together to China in numerous occassion. Murray has made many friends through his carrer in a few countries including China. People like him for his honesty, sense of humour, sharp minded and indeed a caring attitude towards to people he worked with. Murray was the first person at AWTA that I knew as I have been received by him so many times when I brought the Chinese delegations to visit AWTA. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Murray and he has my sincere respect…….May Murray rest in peace.
Helen, Jason, Tim and families,
I have many fond memories of hanging out at Dunhellen in my teenage years. Murray trying to explain the TopClip picture, Helen standing on the worn patch in the kitchen and playing tennis with Tim. Murray could always make me laugh and I always felt very welcome at the Mansfield home. Thinking of you all at this time.
Thank you to everyone for your kind words, both here in the guestbook, as well as those received by card, phone, email and in-person. It’s been lovely to hear of the many experiences people have shared with Dad, and of the memories that live on.
Tim
Dear Helen and family sorry to hear the sad news. Murray was one of my best friend in Australia I will remember him in my heart.
Unfortunately I won’t attend his memorial service for my old age and not quite good health.
Dear Helen and family,
Murray will be missed here in Yarrawonga/Mulwala. He really was a true gentleman and one of a kind.
RIP Murray.
Unfortunately, I cannot attend Wednesday.
With love, Ann Cox
Open up a any dictionary to a True Gentleman and there you will find only one name
Murray Mansfield
Dear Helen Jason Tim and family, sending you our deepest condolences on Murray’s passing. We will always cherish our great memories of Murray’s friendship. We will be honoured to attend and celebrate Murray’s life together .
Rob Mitchell.
I will be honoured to attend Murray’s memorial. Thankyou. Denise Fossey
Dear Helen, Jason and Tim. I meet Murray in 1982 and he was my first corporate manager. It didn’t take long to realise that Murray was someone who could manage, mentor and motivate the team that he lead. But most importantly Murray became a great friend and encouraged me to be my best at everything that was presented to me. Thanks for the advice and memories Muz..
DEAR HELEN
JASON TIM AND FAMILIES, I FIRST MET MURRAY AND HELEN IN 1968 AND I KNOW MURRAY WILL BE VERY MISSED. MY THOUGHTS GO OUT TO YOU AT THIS SAD TIME BUT I HOPE ALL THE HAPPY MEMORIES WILL SUSTAIN YOU.
WITH LOVE
SANDIE FULTON
Dear Helen, Jason and Tim,
It will be our honour to attend Murray’s celebration of his life.
Judy and Laurie Ford
Dear Helen, Jason, Tim and the whole family, sending our deepest condolences at this very sad time. We hope to be able to help you celebrate Murray’s life in a really personal way. Kate Morgan & the team at Tomorrow Funerals