Murray McLaughlin
Murray grew up on a mixed farm in North Canterbury, on the South Island of New Zealand, and says he has always loved all dogs. Blue Heelers were the preferred breed of working dog on the family farm, and Murray himself has owned many different breeds over the years - among them, Alsation, Dalmation, Dachshund and Terriers.
Murray began work at age 15 as a cadet journalist at a country branch office of The Press, the Christchurch morning newspaper. He’s been working as a journalist for more than 43 years. He first joined the ABC in Hobart in 1976 on the program, This Day Tonight. He’s since worked in every capital city except Adelaide, and for various other programs, 
including Nationwide, Four Corners and Lateline. In 2000 he received a Walkley Award. His work for The 7.30 Report out of Darwin has taken him to many Aboriginal communities through the Centre and across the Top End, including the northern reaches of Queensland and Western Australia.
including Nationwide, Four Corners and Lateline. In 2000 he received a Walkley Award. His work for The 7.30 Report out of Darwin has taken him to many Aboriginal communities through the Centre and across the Top End, including the northern reaches of Queensland and Western Australia.Murray says the proliferation of camp dogs and their behaviours have always struck him as a remarkable feature of community life. His attraction for dogs has been noted by the camera crews who’ve accompanied him on his many journeys, and the crews have taken to photographing him with sundry dogs that he’s befriended. He now boasts a large gallery of snaps with dogs from far and wide.
One of his mates Jason Gates (Camera Operator – ABC NT at the ABC reckons…….
Murray McLaughlin is known... as a gutsy and honest journalist, feared only by the incompetent, the cheats and certain Centralian politicians.
Educated, cultured and clipped (around the ears when he attempts to overtake road trains) Murray cuts a fine figure dressed in anything made by RM Williams. He appears to have no weakness other than tide and time. Like Arnhem land rocks that are probably younger, he weathers well.
He does have one other weakness – dogs. All of them, without fear or favour. It is not unusual to see Murray step onto a community and start scanning the area for quadrupeds (who can number in the hundreds) and it is not long before they are rewarded with a scratch behind the ear and a gentle word from the warrior of the pen.’
It was with much bemusement on my first trip with Murray that I saw a mangy mutt limp up to him from under some balcony and rather than a scowl the dog was rewarded when Muz got down on his haunches and cuddled the bloody thing.
For the better part of two decades I had been visiting Communities in the top end and I had never seen anything like that. The dogs’ tail was wagging faster than the propeller on the plane that had dropped us off.
Decrepit bitches with their teats dragging through the dust, puppies with long legs and sombre attitudes and grey bearded pack leaders, all would roll over after half a minute of rubbing and patting.
AMRRIC warmly welcomes Murray as an AMBASSADOR.
