Scotch College

Murray Crow still building

Contrary to a mistaken belief, Murray is still part of this world. He comes from the famous Crow family that has been part of the school for five decades.

It started with James Crow at Scotch, leaving in 1915. John was one of the four Crow brothers - Archie, Leith, and Bob who was Murray's father. They were all bricklayers who carried on the business of their father A R P Crow and Sons. The firm were contractors who specialized in brick chimneys similar to the one which stands in Proban's timber yard at the beginning of the Eastern Freeway, North side of Alexandra Parade, Clifton Hill.

Bob and Linda Crow had four children, two girls Ray and Jay, and Bruce ('28-'38) and Murray (or Mick, as the family called him), who entered Scotch in 1934.

This was the start of a succession of the Crow cousins at Scotch, until Murray's son Russell left in 1970.

In 1945 Murray became a Probationer and the last House Captain of Lawson.

Building was in Murray's blood and so it was no surprise that, on leaving school, he elected to take a building construction course at RMIT.

He then joined the family firm A R P Crow and Sons, and 'put on the tools', as we say in the trade. Gradually he assumed a more executive role with brother Bruce as Managing Director, and the firm began medium sized commercial building contracts in and around Melbourne.

In 1992 Murray married Judy Butterworth and inherited four children and numerous grandchildren, in addition to the children of Adele and Russell.

Circumstances changed dramatically in 1960 when A R P Crow and Sons went into voluntary liquidation. Fortunately Murray joined the firm Austcom, which is a building and construction firm with multi-million dollar works developing grain mills and storage at Wahgunyah in Victoria.

During his thirty or so years he performed many developmental tasks outside the normal building work, around Australia.

Murray is supposed to be retired, but he still does consulting work for his old firm. Recently, he, and an engineering friend formed their own company, specializing in the building of grain silos, and are in the process of tendering for contracts in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

There is an old adage 'Once a builder always a builder' and Murray is no exception.

At seventy three years young, he still plays tennis for Old Scotch, and leads a very full life with his church activities.

The Scotch Family wish both Murray and Judy many more happy years together.