Before his retirement last month, Nick Murray had spent 16 per cent of his colourful life as chief executive officer of Gippsland Ports, according to current Gippsland Ports chair, Geoff Hocking.

Geoff was speaking at the Paynesville Wine Bar last week to a large gathering of family, friends, business and public service organisation representatives who were all there to recognise and congratulate Nick on his fine years of service to Gippsland Ports.

Geoff went on to say Nick’s passion and vitality were infectious and that his ability to know the ins and outs of the organisation as well as his ability to inspire were also great attributes.

He said Nick’s delivery of the Tommy Norton (the Chinese built dredge now used to maintain the entrance to the Gippsland Lakes and beyond) on his watch was an amazing display of management and persistence.

Thanking him for his service, head of Gippsland Ports marine operations, David Holding, said Nick was an advocate for Gippsland Ports and had the ability to standup and put Ports’ point of view in a positive persuasive manner.

In response, Nick said he was “now unshackled in retirement as there were times when I may not have been politically correct!”

He went on to recognise the cooperation between service agencies in his time.

“Contrary to popular opinion there is fantastic cooperation between agency operations that is unsighted by the general population,” he said.

“The cooperation between agencies generates much better outcomes and efficiencies for all.”

Nick said he has had “the best gig in town” for the past 10 years as CEO of Gippsland Ports.

“I have had some great experiences that I would never have dreamed of,” he said.

“I have been very fortunate in the faith that people have vested in me for which I will be eternally grateful.”

PICTURED: Gippsland Ports chief executive officer, Geoff Hocking, and head of marine operations, David Holding (right), presented Nick Murray with a model of the now iconic dredge, Tommy Norton, on his retirement last week. The delivery of the Tommy Norton, now based in Lakes Entrance, was a recent highlight in Nick’s 10 years as Gippsland Ports chief executive officer.