Friday 27 July 2007

Keith Murdoch Mystery

Keith Murdoch (left) was my hero when I was a teenager. I was 17 years old and he must have been 23 when I got the chance to play with him. I must of played about five games with him that season, 1966.


He had represented Otago as a 20-year-old prop in 1964, then had a season with Ponsonby and one with Marist in Napier before returning to Dunedin. That was when I played with him. He was somewhat unfit and so he decided to start the season off playing for Zingari Richmond in the Dunedin second grade competition.

I remember that cold Otago winter of 1966, when we played on a frost covered ground against Eastern at Waikouwai-iti. I was a wing three quarter and my job was to throw the ball in at line out time. There was something unsettling about throwing it to Murdoch, a hulk of a man who physical presence was magnetic. The first time I threw the ball in, it was crooked. Murdoch glared at me. The second time I threw it in off centre. Murdoch grabbed me by the shirt and said, “Next time throw the fuckin’ ball in straight.” The threatening look in his deep eyes convinced me to improve instantaneously, I improved and never threw the ball in crooked again to Keith Murdoch. I was 17 and not fully physically developed, and a couple of the opposition forwards picked on me and roughed me up. Murdoch must have seen it and said, “next time someone hits you, give me his number.”

A few minutes later, a prop with No. 14 on his back, punched me in a tackle. I looked at Keith Murdoch, and said " No. 14.” A few minutes later No. 14 was on the ground, half conscious, and cowering. No one picked on me for the remainder of the game. I had found a grumpy Godfather.

We had a great after match function, and after consuming huge quantifies of beer, Keith offered to drive me home in his olive green Mini Minor. Imagine a 130 kg hulk of muscle getting into a small mini. About 30 mins later, he didn't quite make a corner somewhere south of Cherry Farm and the car slid off the road into a grassy ditch. I offered to help Keith manhandle the car back onto the road. He glared at me with disdain. "Leave it alone boy" he said, "I'll do it myself." With that said, Murdoch lifted, bounced, wrenched and slid the mini up the side of a a 3 metre ditch, skewed it onto the road, straightened the car up like a city slicker straightening his tie, and wiped his hand on the back of his tight shorts.


The famous Peter Bush photographs of Keith Murdoch leaving his hotel in Cardiff

We stopped at the Ravensborne pub for a few more jugs and Murdoch gave me a man-to-boy talk about how to play rugby.

A schoolmate, Nev Cleveland,told me recently he was a neighbour to the Murdoch family in Ravensbourne. Nev was the milk boy and remembers delivering 12 pints of milk to Keith's home daily. He told me that one Sunday morning about 7 am, he met Keith 'as pissed as a fart' crawling home on hands and knees. We both recalled Keith's older brother Bruce, a bricklayer, who was also a fine rugby player.

I also have pleasant memories of drinking after games we played at Montecillo, and walking through the southern cemetery, or drivinng to the closet pub at the southern end of the Oval. Wyndam Barkman, Frosty are some of the other players who come to mind. Murdoch was generally kind and protective of his friends and a pleasure to drink with. He choose his words carefully and added colour and zest to conversations. I am happy he is living a peaceful life in outback Australia.

Murdoch was often the subject of rugby talk, some of it about his not inconsiderable rugby ability, much of it about his behaviour.

A favourite story was of Keith Murdoch towing a car up a Dunedin hill, clasping the tow rope in his teeth! I could believe it !

 He also mentioned to me that he liked being alone and enjoyed his own company. Murdoch went on to live a large part of his life alone. It is a mysterious story.

Murdoch toured Wales in 1972 and achieved notoriety after scoring the opening try of the first Test.

Following the match he argued with the tour manager, assaulted a security guard at the tourist's hotel and was promptly dispatched on the first plane home.

Well known writer David Haviland writes in his blog posting "In 1979, Murdoch paid a brief visit to New Zealand, and was seen saving the life of a drowning toddler, by giving the child mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for four minutes."

He never reached Auckland and instead made the Australian outback his home where he lived in relative obscurity until the discovery of Kumanjai Limerick's body last October. Then the mystery man hit the media in 2001.


Left, a rare photo of keith Murdoch in Australia in 2001


BBC - 24 June 2001

According to the Times newspaper, Keith Murdoch, the former All Black forward who was sent home early from the 1972-3 tour of the British Isles, is wanted for questioning over the murder of an Aboriginal man in the remote Northern Territory.

The Dunedin-born Murdoch, already a controversial and mysterious figure, was dismissed from the All Black tour for attacking a security guard in Cardiff.

Instead of returning to New Zealand, he disembarked in Singapore and travelled to Darwin under an assumed name, before losing himself in the outback.

One New Zealand journalist who traced Murdoch to a logging camp in the 1970s was allegedly threatened and left in haste.

Murdoch was not heard of again until an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Limerick was held on 15 June. It was adjourned until next month.

'No stopping'

The outback community where Murdoch has lived for 10 years is the remote copper-mining town of Tennant Creek.

It is little more than a dot on the 1,900-mile Stuart Highway through central Australia. The Lonely Planet Guide advises travellers not to go there.

So complete has been Murdoch's disappearance that police trying to trace him have had to issue photographs from the 1970s.

Locals, however, say he is now a grey-haired 57-year-old, still with a massive physique and by all accounts feared by the Aboriginal community in a place of simmering racial tensions.

Murdoch, who was known as a loner, played one Test apiece against South Africa, Australia and Wales.

Break-in

The Northern Territory coroner heard evidence that Limerick, a 20-year-old alcoholic, broke into Murdoch's house on 6 October last year.

The inquest was told that Limerick had burgled the house at least twice before.

On the night in question he was allegedly heard by a neighbour pleading not to be "bashed".

Limerick was reportedly taken to Noble's Nob, a disused mine near the town, around 6 October.

He was reportedly seen there alive but disorientated. He decomposed body was found about three weeks later.

Murdoch was questioned, but not charged. He left town soon after the body was discovered and there is now a territory wide search for him as a potentially crucial inquest witness.

It seems the mystery of Keith Murdoch continues.

Keith Murdoch was a man of principles and I know he would never have killed any man. Defended himself, yes. Read what a women journalist wrote about him some years later and was so impressed she wrote a play about him.http://davidhaviland.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/whatever-happened-to-keith-murdoch/

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

I shared the house with Murdoch for 3 years.I was the only one in the courthouse with him on the day he testified.Without going into details,I will tell you this.Neither Murdoch or I took Limerick to nobles nob,yet we were the ones who copped all the shit for it.Those who did do it were never given up.

Anonymous said...

I have worked with Keith over the pased few years,and he is a great bloke to work with,kind and help full 2009

Anonymous said...

It is interesting that no one including the playwright to 'Finding Murdoch', chose to do the obvious, for probable biased reasons, which was to ask what happened from the other side, either at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff, or by researching to try find the security guard, and interview him. It also makes for a better play and mystery not to do so.

Apparently, after the game, and reception, back at the hotel and drunk (thats Ok), he was hungry, but the kitchen was closed. So, he barged into the kitchen and started helping himself to food(thats not OK, basically theft).

A hotel security guard was called, who asked him to leave, understandably as that was his job. The next part, who started punching first, needs to found out from both sides, but bottom line the guard who was just doing his job, was beaten up (definately not OK).

Now after checking the above, if it is true, should he have been sent home, sent to jail for assault, or should it have been ignored?

I believe the right decision was made, and it was an unfortunate, sad incident for all concerned.

Anonymous said...

I simply wished to appreciate you

once again. I do not know

[url=http://www.sunglassesokcheap.com]cheap oakley sunglasses[/url] the things I could

possibly have tried without

the entire

recommendations shown by you relating to this

topic.[url=http://www.sunglassesokcheap.com]discount oakley sunglasses[/url] ,It became a

horrifying scenario for me personally, nevertheless viewing this oakley sunglasses outlet

professional oakley sunglasses cheap avenue you dealt with that

took me to weep with

fulfillment. I'm grateful for the

information and even trust you realize what a great job you are

always carrying out

training most people

all through your websites. I know that you've never come across any of us.

Anonymous said...

With havin so much content do you ever run into any problems
of plagorism or copyright infringement? My blog has a lot of unique content I've either written myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my agreement. Do you know any solutions to help reduce content from being stolen? I'd certainly appreciate it.



my web site: like Skinny Lesbians Are Pissing And Licking Pussies

Anonymous said...

There is certainly a lot to know about this issue.
I like all the points you've made.

my site clear

Anonymous said...

Admiring the hard work you put into your blog and detailed information you present.
It's good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn't the same unwanted rehashed material.
Excellent read! I've saved your site and I'm adding your RSS
feeds to my Google account.

My web blog; Email Console

Anonymous said...

Asking questions are in fact pleasant thing if you are not understanding anything completely,
but this paragraph gives fastidious understanding yet.


Feel free to visit my website scholarships

Anonymous said...

wonderful publish, very informative. I ponder why the other
specialists of this sector don't notice this. You should continue your writing. I am confident, you've a great readers' base already!

Check out my site - http://ozzys.cba.pl/index.php?do=/blog/40787/porn-photos-get-in-todays-society/

Anonymous said...

This makes the mixing phase a lot easier, just put in your concrete and water, and off you go by the wheelbarrow load.
Despite the fact that it uses concrete, an unfriendly environmental material,
it has a few advantages over tires and shares most of the earthship advantages.
Flawless Flooring's polished concrete floor product boasts durability and decorative seamless surfaces made mainly from epoxy and polyurethane materials.

Anonymous said...

You have made some good points there. I looked on the net to
learn more about the issue and
found most people will go along with your views on this site.

Anonymous said...

Hi there, just wanted to say, I liked this post.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!

Feel free to surf to my website ... Brunette Sexy Babe Showing Her Nice Perky Tits In A Forest

Anonymous said...

I like the valuable info you provide in your articles.
I'll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I'm quite certain I'll learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!

my web blog - raspberry ketones reviews

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Many
thanks, However I am encountering troubles with your RSS.
I don't know the reason why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone else getting identical RSS problems? Anybody who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanks!!

my web blog: Such A Good Point

Anonymous said...

And a key to the programs success will be the development and implementation of
an outreach and education campaign to encourage participation in the
CLASS program. An image will help flesh out exactly what you’re trying to
announce while adding character, flavor and visual appeal
to the document. Located within blocks of the train station where the Tren a
las Nubes departs, this stretch of 7 or 8 blocks began 100 years ago as the cultural centre of the city, unfortunately falling into disrepair over the years, then only to
be rescued 10 years ago by the city's current mayor. Vu promises that you'll
look forward to doing them as the results are well worth it.

There is use of only the best of natural vegetarian ingredients like rehydrated textured soya, wheat flour and wheat protein, vegetable
oil that has salt and some fatty acid emulsifier namely
mono-glycerides and di-glycerides.

Here is my web page ... De Witt

Anonymous said...

Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your
articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything.
However imagine if you added some great pictures
or videos to give your posts more, "pop"! Your content is
excellent but with images and videos, this blog could undeniably be one of the most beneficial in its niche.
Terrific blog!

Take a look at my blog post - http://pornharvest.com/index.php?m=2724594

Anonymous said...

I don't even know the way I ended up right here, however I believed this submit was great. I do not realize who you're
but certainly you're going to a famous blogger if you aren't already.
Cheers!

Also visit my weblog ... poker night

Anonymous said...

Do you have a spam problem on this site; I also am a blogger, and
I was wanting to know your situation; we have created some nice methods and we are looking
to swap solutions with others, be sure to shoot me an email if interested.


my page ... wildpartygirls.org

Anonymous said...

This is my first time go to see at here and i am really impressed to read everthing at single place.


My weblog; http://pornharvest.com/index.php?q=nubiles+riley_reid&f=a&p=s

Anonymous said...

You've made some really good points there. I looked on the internet for more info about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this website.

Look into my blog post: Read More

Anonymous said...

I am curious to find out what blog platform you happen to be
working with? I'm having some small security issues with my latest website and I'd like
to find something more secure. Do you have any suggestions?


Feel free to surf to my web page - He Said - pornharvest.com

Anonymous said...

Today, I went to the beach front with my children. I found a
sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter
and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She placed the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely
off topic but I had to tell someone!

my homepage porn photo

Anonymous said...

I constantly spent my half an hour to read this blog's articles every day along with a mug of coffee.

my web site ... bondage women

Anonymous said...

Thank you, I have recently been looking for information about this
subject for ages and yours is the greatest I've came upon till now. But, what concerning the conclusion? Are you positive in regards to the source?

Look into my blog post :: visit

Anonymous said...

Hello, just wanted to mention, I enjoyed this blog post. It was funny.
Keep on posting!

Here is my web-site; http://www.sharubusafaris.com/index.php/member/13796/

go to market plan ppt said...

Hey! Good job with the post! Keep blogging!!