HE WAS there when the first dogs were sold off the back of a ute in 1997 and this year, even before the first dog arrives in town, Ian Murphy will be on the ground, working to ensure the 2023 Australia Premier Working Dog Auction is once again an international success.

While happy to be in the shadows, behind the scenes ‘Murph’ is a pivotal character in the script for the biggest event on the local calendar and this week there was no avoiding the limelight as the Casterton Kelpie Association presented him with the John ‘Chiefy’ McGrath Volunteer Award.

Association committeeman and former dog auction chairman, John Matthews, announced the award at last week’s annual general meeting.

“Ian’s been with us since day dot; he was basically accosted onto the volunteer list because of Spud and Kaye O’Connell, his sister and brother-in-law,” he said.

“He was our very first transport operator and that comes with a few risks as well - we’re borrowing sheep, we’ve got to ensure the welfare and biosecurity of those sheep and that they get back safely, they need to be picked up, dropped off and get back to the property on time.

“Murph’s always very conscious about animal welfare, he was very good with the people we’re picking sheep up from, a good communicator, good with stakeholder relations.”

And while his livestock transport business no longer carts sheep, Murph is still there, every year, when the hard work needs to be done, from set-up to pack-up and taking his place as one of the ‘Yard Boys’ – the fellas ‘out the back’ of the dog demonstrations, letting fresh sheep into and then out of the yards and ensuring the welfare of every animal.

“He’s always assisted with the set-up on the Friday, sometimes for a whole day, sometimes for a few hours, depending on who’s there, who’s chatting and how much there is to be done,” Mr Matthews said.

“He’s very handy when it comes to design aspects of let out pens and stuff like that.

“But one of the most appreciated roles he plays, comes after the completion of the demonstrations.

“While we’re over soaking in the glory and watching the auction happen, there’s Ian and a small band of fellas, you turn around and it’s all packed up.

“All those yards are on the right carts, well-parked, it’s an enormous job for three or four people, it’s one-and-a-half kilometres of fencing and we’ve spent days putting it up.

“I don’t know why they don’t soak up the results as well, but they do an enormous job.”

Mr Matthews said Murph’s contribution to the auction was priceless and he was one of the “true champions” of the Kelpie weekend’s success.

“He whole-heartedly supports the auction, he’s provided support and guidance to our livestock operation before, during and after our event, he’s one of the most reliable, diligent and obliging volunteers and he’s one bloke that you can ring once and ‘yep, I’ll be there, what time?’ and that’s it, that’s all that’s needed,” Mr Matthews said.

“And on the day, doesn’t matter what the weather is doing, he’s there making sure there’s eight sheep in, eight sheep out, watching out for those things, being able to see if something is going to happen, maybe go wrong, before it happens.

“He really measures up to the John ‘Chiefy’ McGrath Award.”

The John McGrath Volunteer Award is presented in honour of one of its greatest volunteer contributors.

On the ground since the muster’s early days, John was not a common sight to event-goers – he preferred to work quietly, behind the scenes on the day – but the rest of the year, on his own, personal travels around the country, he would talk-up the event to anyone who stood still for long enough.

In 2014, when John suddenly passed and the Kelpie Association was left shattered with the loss – there was only one way for the group to move forward.

“The John McGrath Award goes back to when John passed away, we wanted to acknowledge what a significant contributor he was to our organisation in lots of ways,” Mr Matthews said.

“Not only did he bring his tractor and himself, he brought his expertise and a real love of the event.

“John left an almighty legacy with our group … we had these (volunteer Casterton Secondary College kids) that didn’t get on the school bus for three days because they wanted to be in Chiefy’s company.

“Even now … we’ll be putting up all those yards and someone will say ‘well, Chiefy wouldn’t do it like that’.”

The first recipient of the John McGrath Award was newly elected vice president for 2023, Giles Kent, who began life with the working dog auction as Chiefy’s protégé.

The association’s Sharon McGrath said it was “obvious” that the first recipient “had to be” Mr Kent, who first took his place as a volunteer while at school.

“Giles started working with the Kelpie Muster as a primary age student - he was always under John’s wing,” she said.

“They would be at set up, the high jump and all day Sunday, working at the auction.

“John and ‘Long Fellow’ as he called Giles, developed a fantastic friendship.”

The John McGrath Award is now presented by the Casterton Kelpie Association each year and recognises “the selfless and dedicated contribution of volunteers who consistently support our event, forming enduring friendships, growing our event and building a better community”.

Since the first award in 2015, the accolade has been presented to Neil Widdicombe, Paul O’Brien, Heather Gill and Don Sims, for their contributions as the unsung heroes of the Kelpie Muster and Working Dog Auction.

While he couldn’t be at the meeting to receive his award, The Casterton News caught up with Mr Murphy at work this week.

“Of course it’s an honour to get this,” he said.

“It’s a great place to be, we have a good time being there, helping out.”