Safaris and selflessness

Press, 15 June 1978, Page 20

Safaris and selflessness

Nine months ago, Bob abd Trudie Murray bought the two-storey National Bank building on the main street of Reefton. From this historic nine-bedroom house, built in 1912. they now run two activities.

Westland Safaris is & carry-over from the tourist trips that were part of the Murrays’ holiday business in Greymouth. For three years they owned Westhaven Tourist Lodge on Albert Street, and took guests to areas of scenic and historic interest in the locality. In Greymouth, Bob Murray’s safari licence did not allow him to pick up beyond Westhaven, but now things are more flexible. “Our trips go anywhere on the Coast,” he says, “And we can pick up anywhere.” Many of Murray’s customers come from the nearby Reefton camping ground and there is a steady flow of school parties. He recently took 16 pupils from Pleasant Point High School into the Big River area, leaving them there with their gear to walk out in their own time. Westland Safaris is a one-man one-vehicle business at the moment. Murray started with a truck and now uses a Landrover capable of carrying nine passengers. He feels that maintenance costs are so high that more vehicles are not warranted. Also, the demand for trips is seasonal, with a quiet spell during August and September. There are plenty of scenic trips to interesting places in the area, says Bob Murray, and with a four-wheel drive vehicle he can tackle most terrain. The location of trips and

any meals that may be required en route are by ar« rangement. He feels that there is a big future on the Coast for such trips, where couriers with specialised knowledge of local attractions can help tourists to git off the beaten track and see some beautiful country. The Murrays’ other activity is not a lucrative one, in fact it often sees them out of pocket. For some years Trudie Murray has enjoyed giving a home and affection to children from the Social Welfare Department. With four children of their own this can sometimes mean a houseful for the Murrays. Before Christmas they had 12 children in their care. Now with plenty of spare room, the Murrays have extended their social work to include adults. They call their small aid unit Outreach, and with the constant help of Tony Canton of the Social Welfare Department in Greymouth, they are providing a home and help for displaced and distressed families. Their work is based on Christian ethics, an extension of the good nature tha* is evident in both of the Murrays. Recently they helped a young couple who were out of work and bankrupt to rejoin their children. They currently have two needy mothers and their children in the house. “There is so much hardship, we’re just glad to help,” says Trudie Murray. They both feel that the effort seems doubly worthwhile if the outcome of their help is a good one. Bob and Trudie Murray would seem to be an example of West Coast kindness at Its most constructive.