Most of us at one time or other have either told our life story, poured out our troubles, discussed good news and bad, or simply passed the time with pleasant chit chat while in the expert hands of our hairdresser. Unwittingly, the act of becoming the focus of attention of someone who is doing their utmost to make us look as good as possible, somehow releases our tongue and we freely chatter about things we sometimes don't even share with close friends and family.


Doing his training at Kerslakes Hairdressing Salon in Hobart where he lived with his Mum and sister above the shop, Murray became acquainted with all manner of clients who would be instrumental in his future direction. Members of Parliament were customers, as well as lawyers, the Hydro secretary, Hydro directors and the like, so Murray's first awareness of the need to set up ancillary services in the Hydro villages came in those early working years in Hobart. Gaining the contract to be the hairdresser in Bronte Park, the family moved there in 1950.

Ten years at Bronte Park saw his family grow, with wife Molly and he having four sons, Tony, Michael, David and Dennis. Murray enlisted the help of hairdresser Mario Donofrio to keep up with the demand for their services, and when the time came to move on to Poatina, Mario went with him. With Mario working out of one of the huts up in the single men's quarters, one of the houses used as a store was made available to Murray until he could set himself up properly in one of the new shops.
The Boon family quickly became a vital part of the Poatina community, so much so, that when Murray's wife Molly sadly died, it was reported that if any more people had wanted to attend her funeral, they would have had to shut down work on the site for the day. Now with four young boys to raise on his own, Murray had to work out what his next steps would be. Surrounded with friends, and with such support from the community, the boys had no desire to move away, saying "you have memories wherever you go, so why leave." Happily, the family's fortunes changed when Murray met Pat, who hailed from Sydney. They married in 1962 and their son Craig was born in 1963, making their family complete. In those years at Poatina Murray became much more than the hairdresser, for his shop handled sporting goods, toys, fancy goods and confectionery as well as the Tatts Agency. If the General Store didn't have what you were looking for, you could be sure to find it at Murray's, and vice versa. "Being a hairdresser you'd get both sides to most stories. You knew what was going on around town."

Both Murray and Pat have fond memories of their involvement with the sporting clubs and community events, and two roles Murray particularly enjoyed were chauffering brides to the church on their wedding day, and turning up as Santa each Christmas. Murray's first wife Molly had made him a Santa suit back in 1951 for his first appearance as Father Christmas at Bronte Park, and even though he is now in his late 70's, Murray still uses that same suit when he delights young children at community celebrations each festive season.


Even in their role as upholders of the law, Murray believed the spirit within the community meant the local police could do their job without getting people offside, often handling situations with a much more even approach. "I remember when Michael Eaton and Jim Wise pulled out all the guide posts along the main road. Alan Denny was the resident policeman at the time, and he brought them back to the scene of the crime one Saturday morning, lined up the posts, gave them each a shovel and made them put them all back in again. You could have a bit of fun with them too. Constable Condron was there in the early days. His wife was giving me cheek one day so I put her across my knee and spanked her. She yelled out in mock protest "I'll tell my husband" to which I quickly replied "Well, I'll just tell him you must've deserved it"."

With the exodus of workers leaving Poatina and moving on to the next Hydro project at Gowrie Park, Murray and Pat also made the move there in 1965. Another 5 years saw Murray and Pat wanting to make a change. After 20 years as a hairdresser in Hydro villages, Murray was ready to move on, and they were wanting to be more settled as a family in their own home. What started being built as a weekend shack at Eaglehawk Neck in the State's south during their time at Poatina, now became their home. Taking on the manager's role at the Penzance Motel in Eaglehawk Neck in 1970 was a radical career change, but one he relished.

Murray and Pat still live in that house with its beautiful outlook to the sea, enjoying their retirement and their interactions with people in yet another small community. Having refused several approaches over the years to serve on local Council, Murray believes he is now in the best position to help the community by keeping in contact with the Council, having a go at them if necessary, and alerting them of things in the local area which need attention. He rang the Council on one occasion to inquire if there were any witches hats available. When asked what he wanted them for, Murray said "I want to put them in the holes on Blowhole Road. The potholes down there are pretty bad. I went through one the other night and there was a car in the bottom of it." Needless to say the potholes were promptly repaired.

In all his exploits Murray would never accept that the little man should be victimised by the big man. He has always had a way of getting things done by appealing to common sense, never going outside the rules, but getting alongside the right person or around the right person to get supplies to the places they were needed, facilities where they were needed, and help for people who needed it. And he has certainly not been averse to dramatising the situation to get some action, a knack which has paid off over the years and endeared him to many in the community.

Though still an active member of the Eaglehawk Neck community, Murray's love of fishing is one activity which has been severely curtailed following a boating accident in 1990. Pat went to investigate why he hadn't returned when expected, found their dog in the car down near the boat ramp, so assumed Murray had put the boat away. When she found it wasn't in the boatshed the alarm was raised, but the seas were too rough for the smaller boats at hand to be included in the search. When he was found an hour and a half later clinging to his upturned boat, Murray told of how a freak wave had flipped the boat right back over his head, and as he reckoned he was heading for New Zealand by the time they found him, his rescuers were a very welcome sight.

Murray's fishing exploits are now restricted to crayfishing in November and December in someone else's boat, though Pat can vouch for the fact that he is still very active in other ways around the home and in the community. He loves to watch others out on the water with his binoculars, and has raised the alarm on more than one occasion when he has seen someone in obvious difficulty. Often coming across clients from the past who would love him to still be working as a hairdresser, Murray says there are very few hairdressers of his era around any more, but he acknowledges it carries with it a responsibility and schedule he would rather not have at this time in his life.

Between their home, garden and local community, Murray and Pat have no difficulty finding plenty to occupy their days, and Murray shows no signs of slowing down in the near future. "I enjoy life too much to do that," says Murray.