Murray, what can you tell me about the under 16 premiership win for Camperdown you mentioned in your sporting highlights?
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We played Colac at Camperdown. We should never have won the game.
Colac had been the best side in the competition for the whole year.
They had demoralised other sides during the year, but when it came grand final day it was pouring rain and the ground was really heavy.
The terrible weather always meant it was going to be a close tussle.
History now shows we won the close encounter by one goal.
I'm a mad Richmond fan. There's not many times the Magpies beat the Tigers.
But I was really pleased we did that day at the Leura Oval.
Where did your footy career go after that memorable junior grand final victory?
I never played in under 18s. I had played in the under 10s, 12s and 14s for Camperdown up at the showgrounds, but I realised I never had much ability as a footballer.
Let’s go back in time. What can you tell me about attending Weerite Primary School?
It was just a small country school outside of Camperdown. I've got wonderful memories of going to school out there.
There was between 15 to 20 students. When I was in grade 6, there was only three other students in the grade.
We used to love playing footy, cricket and tennis.
The tennis court was nestled under the old trees and the kids used to wear the old Volley runners for sport.
The school has been closed for many years now which was disappointing, but that is all part of progress as they continually say.
Weerite had a very strong community spirit when I was growing up there.
I can still remember the new tennis courts being opened up near the local hall.
That was a massive day for the local community.
I take it you were raised on a dairy farm out at Weerite?
That’s right. My family had a beef and dairy farm. We milked just under 100 cows.
I had a wonderful childhood, as I realised the importance of family when I was very young.
My siblings and I were raised with a strong work ethic and to show respect for others from our parents.
Those two characteristics have stood us in good stead, not only for our working careers but also in raising our own children.
You mentioned that you walked away from your footy career at a young age. Have you been involved in any other sports?
I played a lot of tennis.
I started out playing juniors at Weerite before playing at the tennis complex in Camperdown.
Then, when I moved to Warrnambool in 1988, I played lots of tennis at the indoor factility.
I was lucky to have played in a lot of double tennis premiership at the indoor centre with blokes like Chris Holloway and Steve Armistead. I also got involved out at Premier Speedway in 1999.
What did your involvement at Premier Speedway consist of?
Funny thing you ask me that question. I was asked to do some crowd entertainment between races.
Can you be a bit more specific about the role?
Yeah … I was dressed up as a racing rabbit and I would ride around on a four-wheel motor bike which was dressed up as a racing car.
I used to have rabbit ears coming out the top of my helmet.
I can still remember one January meeting. There had been some rain and there was a halt.
I charged out onto the track in all my gear on the bike. The grass was really greasy in the middle of the track. I hit a gravel section and the next minute I was looking up at the sky.
I had tipped the bike over a few times.
I think some of the fans thought it was all part of the entertainment – little did that know that I broke my left wrist in the fall.
Did the fall and wrist injury sideline you for the rest of the speedway season?
I came back for the next meeting and was there for the heats and the final of the Classic, with my wrist still in plaster. As they say, the show must go on.
The sport I'm heavily involved with now is go-karts. I’m the president of the club. We hold 10 meetings a year out at Lake Gillear.
The meetings are staged on the last Sunday of every month except for December and January.
The club was formed in 1999 and has more than 85 members. We're just getting ready to hold our biggest event in the history of the club.
What details do you have?
The club is hosting the Victoria State Cup on December 3, 4 and 5 at Lake Gillear. There will be more than 250 competitors from all over the place taking part.
We hope that some of the money which will be raised will resurface the 10 per cent of the track which still needs doing.
We've done 90 per cent of the track through the assistance of our valued sponsors and fans.
One of the best things about go-karts is all the family can get involved. I originally got involved through my son, Lachlan.
You mentioned you moved to Warrnambool in 1988, where you started your career in real estate. Now you own the Warrnambool Caravan Centre with your brother Neville. What's it like owning your own small business?
It's pretty good. There are the normal challenges which any small business has to confront.
Neville and I are brothers, but are also great mates.
I've been fortunate to have had a good background in the real estate and car industry before teaming up with Neville in 2008 to start our business.