Francis Murray was raised in Birdsville and Bedourie by his parents, Wesley and Sandra Murray. Sandra's
family were from Marree and worked in the cattle industry. In those days of droving, Marree was an
important railhead for the transport of cattle, helping to maintain the historically strong relationship
between Birdsville and Marree. Wesley was a son of Arthur and Flora Murray, who moved to Birdsville
from Finniss Springs Station, north of Marree, in 1950, also working in the cattle industry as drovers,
fencers and yard builders. Arthur and Flora had a large family and were known for their hospitality. This
was the life that Francis grew up in during the 1970s, attending the Birdsville State Primary School and
finishing his secondary education at Scots PGC in Warwick.
Francis married Michelle Cain in the Bedourie Hall in 1995 and together, they established their truck
business working for the Diamantina Shire. Francis and Michelle have two children, Ryder and Jonti, and
when Francis' parents passed away, they raised his brother, Wesley Jr.
The family moved to South Australia when the children were young, where Michelle was involved in
regional arts, while Francis maintained their business in locations such as South Australia's northern
tracks, the Cooper Basin, APY Lands, the Northern Territory, and Diamantina Shire.
Francis and Michelle now live in Birdsville and have ceased running their business to focus on Francis'
role as Mayor. Francis is proudly descended from the Arabana, Dieri, Barngarla, Kookatha and Scottish
peoples of South Australia, but having lived and worked almost all his life across the Diamantina Shire,
he considers the Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi, Mithaka, Wangkamahdia, Pitta Pitta and Maiawali/Karuwali
countries home.
This is Francis' second term as an elected member of the Diamantina Shire Council. During his first term,
from 2020 to 2024, he was a councillor for approximately two years and then Deputy Mayor for the
remainder of the term.
