Legend Greyhound Vet John Murray Passes Away

LEGENDARY Queensland greyhound veterinarian John Murray died today aged 85.

John was as well known in greyhound racing circles as Zoom Top and kibble.

John Murray was a Kiwi by birth, an Australian by choice.

His parents, originally from England and Scotland, met in New Zealand.

University educated in Australia, he worked for the NZ government for five years until moving to Victoria where he linked with the late, great Jim Gannon.

Greyhounds became a part of his life.

John bought Gannon's Kew practice and met Bev Behm about the same time.

His vet nurse Helen O'Leary was the owner of champion greyhound Benjamin John.

In 1981, he and Bev took Dancing Duchess to Grafton and won with her and then headed to the Gabba and won there as well. They liked Brisbane so much, they moved north.

John joined the Professional Trainers Association and eventually joined the Brisbane Club's committee.

In 2007, the Federal Government presented him with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

He was also president of the Australian Greyhound Vets Association for many years.

“Greyhound racing is just like heroin addiction … you are never cured,” Murray once said.