Ray Gibb

Henry Hards of Melbourne South Australia was born in 1820, and died at age 64 years old in 1884 in Melbourne South.

1850 census Pennsylvania. Abraham Griffith.................34. Rebecca Griffith..................27. Artha M. Griffith...................10. Sylvester Griffith...................6. John C. Griffith.....................4. Elisabeth Griffith...................58. Jonah Griffith...................20. Ann C. Griffith..................20.

WALTER VIVIAN MURPHY WAS, IN MY OPINION, ONE OF TULLAMARINE'S THREE GREAT LEADERS. Alec Rasmussen was the secretary of The Tullamarine Progress Association from its foundation on 1924 until 1954. All of his former pupils adored him, those who attended the 1989 reunion, which I organised with great help from Winnie Lewis (nee Parr) and Leo Dineen who ensured that former residents were contacted, spoke glowingly about him. It was his suggestion that the progress association obtain Noah Holland's six acre blocks opposite the closed Beech Tree Hotel through adverse possession by paying rates unpaid since Noah' death. Noah had used the six acres to rest sheep until they could be driven to Newmarket Saleyards during approved hours. When James Tenniel, owner of the Beech Tree died, Noah married his widow. Alec arrived at Tullamarine State School in 1909, organising community picnics at Alexander McCracken's "Cumberland" in the first three years, producing the Pioneers' Honour Board and probably compiling the list of Anzacs on the Tullamarine War Memorial which stood in the State School grounds (top left corner of Melway 5 F9) until about 1960, it is now on the south corner of Dalkeith Avenue and Broadmeadows Rd. A plaque set on a boulder at the Melrose Drive Reserve (5 H 10-11) honours his contribution to the Tullamarine community. Walter Vivian (don't call me Major) Murphy lived a very useful life which ended in Parkville, probably at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, after he was bashed by a group of young thugs, (in Tullamarine, as I recall) in 1984. WALTER'S DEATH RECORD. MURPHY Walter Vivian, Death MOTHER: Mary Ann nee LINCOLN, father: MURPHY James Vivian places of birth and death: Tallawang New South Wales, Parkville spouse at death: (see the scout history) 76, 1984, 25525/1984 Walter Vivian Murphy arrived in Tullamarine and lived immediately north of the closed Junction Hotel which had become Cel and Lily Green's garage and shop. Ray Loft subdivided the former Broombank farm in 1952 and Walter was probably one of the first purchasers. In 1959, he prepared a pamphlet entitled THE CASE AGAINST A JETPORT AT TULLAMARINE, which showed on a map the subdivisions already planned for the area. (See pages 196-7 of Andrew Lemon's BROADMEADOWS A FORGOTTEN HISTORY.") N.B. Andrew Lemon does not even mention W.V.Murphy, only referring vaguely to a Residents' Committee, which almost certainly was the Tullamarine Progress Association of which Walter was the President. The T.P.A. had been fundraising, (aided by film nights at the Thomas family's Carinya Park near Barrie Rd on the south side of Sharps Rd.) to build a hall on the Reserve which had been donated to the Broadmeadows Shire by the T.P.A. in 1929. A slab had been poured but work did not proceed because it was feared that the reserve would be swallowed by airport acquisitions. The cover photo of BROADMEADOWS: A FORGOTTEN HISTORY shows the Broadmeadows Hotel at the base of Ardlie St as seen from Fawkner St, with the Township's second, 1869 bluestone bridge in the foreground. The gaslight, the township's only light, which Jack Hoctor used to light as a lad, can be seen behind the right hand side of the bridge. As there was no bridge on Mickleham Rd until the 1970's, traffic heading north had to head up the Ardlie St hill to Melway 5 K5. After W.W.1, the township's war memorial was erected in the most conspicuous spot where the residents could constantly remember their heroes. By the time of Walter's arrival, increasingly heavy motor traffic was likely to damage the memorial which was causing a bottleneck, so Walter relocated the memorial to the site of the township's windmill. Walter organised burning of firebreaks, In about 1971 relocated St Mary's Church from the South west corner of "Woodlands", where it was likely that vibrations from jets would destroy the 113 year old church, to Bulla Village. After the closure of Tullamarine S.S.2613 circa 1960, Walter moved the Tullamarine War Memorial to the Dalkeith Avenue corner of the new school's grounds. He was also heavily involved in the scouting movement and is honoured for his work at Rowallan Scout Camp at Riddells Creek. Extracts. 1974: Plans were laid for an ablution block for outdoor campers. Our dear Scouting friend, Walter Murphy supervised this project. 1975: October: Building of kitchen, showers and toilets completed. November: Region Commissioner, Mrs. Dorothy Hepburn presided over the opening of the Walter Murphy Campsite for Guide Outdoor Camping. Walter had the privilege of turning the key in the door. He then named the entry and exit road to the site Mills Crescent in appreciation of the work of Joan Mills, District Commissioner of Essendon. 1990: A shelter was planned to be built on the Walter Murphy site to assist the Outdoor campers in both the hot or wet weather. 2001: October: The dedication of the landscaping wall at the rear of Minda Killara, the “Murphy Wall” by the State Commissioner Mrs. Jane Scarlett, so named to remember the work and support of the entire Murphy family – Walter, Margaret and Elaine. There is no recognition of W.V.Murphy's great contribution to Tullamarine and the surrounding district. Councillor Naim Kurt, perhaps Hume City Council could erect history boards or plaques near the Broadmeadows Township and Tullamarine war memorials detailing some of the information provided here. (My information will be provided to Ancient Faces which at least provided Walter's year of death so I could find his death record, although I was wondering whether he was the Major Murphy who attended St Paul's Westmeadows. Walter Vivian Murphy 1908 - 1984 BORN 1908 DEATH 1984 Park, Australia LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE Park, Australia SUMMARY Walter Vivian Murphy was born in 1908. He is the child of James Vivian Murphy and Ann Mary Murphy. He died in 1984 in Park, Australia at 76 years old. Tullamarine's third great leader was Leo Dineen whose contribution has been suitably recognised by the renaming of the Spring St Reserve in his honour.