Vale Artie Murdoch

Members of the Phillip Island community turned out on Tuesday morning to a funeral service held at the Phillip Island fire station, to farewell much loved community member Artie Murdoch, who died last week at the age of 93.

Artie dedicated much of his long life on Phillip Island to community service, with those paying tribute on Tuesday describing a man who lived a selfless life, the likes of which we will never see again.

Artie was a member of the Phillip Island CFA for 75 years, having joined in 1948 at the age of 11.  He was a founding member of the Volunteer Ambulance Driver team who covered Phillip Island in the days before a publicly operated ambulance service was established, and served 40 years on the ambulance auxiliary subsequently.

He was a member of the Phillip Island Football Club’s 1951 premiership team, and after hanging up his boots, continued as a Club trainer for the next 40 years.

Artie was made a Life Governor of the Royal Childrens’ Hospital continuing to collect on the local fire truck for the Good Friday Appeal until 2020.

He was named citizen of the year in 1983, in the inaugural Phillip Island Rotary Club citizen annual award program, was trustee for the Phillip Island Brass Band, belonged to Phillip Island’s Cricket Club, helped out at the Boy’s Club, and helped his wife June at the Youth Club which she was involved in running.

Artie worked for the old Shire of Phillip Island as superintendent of works for 44 years. He was able through this position to link the island’s emergency service groups, while in their infancy, forming working relationships to the benefit of the community.

In August 2017, Governor General Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove visited Phillip Island, during which visit Sir Peter presented Artie with the Governor General’s award, in recognition of his service to the CFA and to the local community, over a 60 year period.

Full report in next week’s Advertiser.