Earlier this month, the financial counselling sector bid farewell to Murray Sayers.
Murray was an early financial counsellor in Victoria and a prominent, much-loved figure within our association. To celebrate Murray’s legacy, a few of Murray’s friends, colleagues, and students shared some of their reflections on him.
“Murray was gutsy—and he hated injustice. In the early to mid-1980s, Murray occasionally called me for legal advice. On one occasion, Murray’s client had been illegally evicted by the landlord, and the locks were changed. Murray called to ask me, ‘Can she go back in?’ I couldn’t think of any reason why not—Murray managed to get in (I think there was an unlocked window) and change the locks once more, putting his client back in the property.”
– Denis Nelthorpe
“Murray was renowned for his well-known phrase, ‘If it looks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, if it waddles like a duck, then… it must be a duck,’ in relation to working with concerns about clients’ debt matters. It basically meant that if a matter looks and sounds wrong, chances are, it’s wrong.
Murray was a teacher to many financial counsellors, past and present, and an ongoing resource we could comfortably turn to. Many people were met with his generosity and warmth as he provided teaching and friendship that left a well-remembered mark on everyone. He was someone who could always be approached with whatever question a person had, and he would always make the time to listen and provide considered and careful feedback. He also encouraged everyone to think creatively for the best outcome for a client. He was genuine, generous, and very likeable. Vale Murray.”
– Maria and Miles Turnbull
“Murray was already a legend when I joined the ranks of financial counsellors back in 1990. He was a regular attendee at what was then called the State Network meeting every few months at Ross House.
In the early days, I recall he was also on the board of what was called Consumer Credit Legal Service (now known as CALC) and if my memory is correct he was one of the first to hold the position of Chair. I spent a few years on the board with him as he continued to guide and support the staff of about 4, maybe 5, at the time.
He attended the state and national conferences with his wife, Dina and I recently saw them both at both conferences only a few years back.”
– Ian Liddell
“In 1987, Perth tycoon Alan Bond bought Waltons Credits (the finance arm of Waltons stores) and recommenced debt collection activity against consumers who allegedly still owed money to Waltons. Most debtors were public housing tenants who had been sold door-to-door furniture many years earlier. Most debts were not owed or had outrageous penalty interest.
Gary Sullivan from West Heidelberg Community Legal Centre objected to the issuing of a debt collection license to Commercial Recovery Management, the firm engaged to collect.
The hearing lasted over a week, and long story short, the court allowed Commercial Recovery Management to collect on the debts. The court also held Gary Sullivan personally liable and had $8,500 costs awarded against him.
Local residents in Collingwood, whose stories contributed to the court case, were furious. They could not believe a lawyer who was trying to help them would have to pay costs. So they organised a fundraiser for Gary—on one Saturday night, a rock’n’roll dance held at St Joseph’s Hall, Collingwood.
Not many people turned up.
But Murray Sayers did, along with Dina.
Murray always supported grassroots consumer actions.”
– Peter Gartlan
“Murray was unique.
He had an unusual way of looking at client problems and then advocating with creditors. But his primary reason for “being” in the sector was systemic advocacy.
Murray enjoyed creating change for the better. He loved removing a problem that impacted consumers—HFC—in the full knowledge that he was playing “Whack-a-Mole.” Get rid of one problem, and another would arrive to challenge him.
He would have loved the challenges we face now and revelled in the work needed to advocate for change for the better.
Murray and his collaborators established financial counselling not only as individual client advocates but also as a concept of using the client story to create change through systemic advocacy.
We owe so much to the financial counsellors of his era and, in particular, to Murray.”
– Pam Mutton
