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Murray CookPrint Page Print this page

11-July-2023
11-July-2023

Photographs supplied by Stephen Warren

The garden was established in memory of Murray Cook who left a large bequest to the towns of Blyth, Clare and Snowton.

When Murray Cook returned home from his service in World War Two he ran the family farm with his brother Vivian near Blyth until he was in his 70s.  He died in 1995 at the age of 79, and the local community discovered that he had left 50 per cent of the proceeds of the sale of his farm to what was then the Blyth Hospital Board, now known as the Blyth Development Board. 

At the time, the money was equally spread across 10 other organisations in Blyth, Clare, and Snowtown.

Location

Address:South Terrace, Murray Cook Memorial Garden, Blyth, 5462
State:SA
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -33.847867
Long: 138.489088
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Garden
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Community

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Monday 25th April, 2022
Front Inscription

Murray Cook Memorial Garden
     Established 2021 

Murray & his brother Vivian farmed land at Everard, about 10 kilometres west of Blyth. Both brothers were often seen having a yarn with Ray Paterson in his garage in the main street of Blyth.  Both were quietly spoken and honest men, who would often help their neighbours. They were hard workers into their 70s, and although they had modern farming equipment, they often liked to use the old farming methods.  Indeed, it is remembered that they would pitchfork raked filed limestone onto the back of a tray top truck in the early 1980s, when all other farmers were fully mechanised for this task. They would often read the seasons the traditional way by watching if the saltbush on their farm was flowering and if the rabbits were reproducing.  After Viv`s death, Murray retired into Blyth, & enjoyed short trips on the Blyth Hospital bus to places never visited before. Murray passed away in 1995, aged 79, & the Blyth community were extremely grateful that he had left 50% of the proceeds from the farm sale to what was the Blyth Hospital Board, & is now the Blyth Development Board. The balance of the funds was equally spread across 10 other organisations in Blyth, Clare & Snowtown.  The interest & dividends from this & other community money has supported dozens of town projects since 1997, & will continue to do so for many years to come.

[ Photographs ]

A Project Of The Blyth Development Board 2022

Left Side Inscription

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au