Meet your vendor
I was born in Sydney but grew up in Canberra. I left school in Year 11 because I was training so much at the time. Sport pretty much took over my life then.
Before The Big Issue I worked at the recycling plant in Canberra and did kitchenhand work, and I also used to be a professional athlete. I started athletics when I was 14 and ended up on an Athlete Education Scholarship program, so I was pretty much training eight‑hour days. I’d go to school from nine till one, then leave and go back to training.
I competed at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics in shot-put and discus, and I got bronze. I competed in the classification F20, which is intellectually disabled. The Sydney Paralympics was really amazing. I got to watch different sports like wheelchair basketball as well. It’s pretty good representing your country. I didn’t mind it.
Through athletics I got to travel to Spain, Brazil and Argentina for world championships and competitions. I competed until about 2007, but then I injured my back.
I first heard about The Big Issue through a couple of friends who were already selling. It was working okay for them, so I thought I’d jump on board. At the time I wasn’t doing much, really, so I liked the idea of getting out and selling some books and seeing what it was like. I’ve been doing it for eight years now.
These days I sell around Florey and Jamison. It’s great there: friendly, nice people, always wanting to have a chat. A good day for me is about 20 magazines. I’ve definitely got a lot of repeat customers now. Some of them stop for a chat and offer me a coffee, which is good.
The money from The Big Issue helps a lot. I bought myself a new TV not too long ago, and I got myself an Xbox One as well. I used to play Grand Theft Auto a lot until they took it offline, which really annoyed me. I still love sport. I follow the Lakers in basketball and the Brumbies in rugby union. Shout out to the Brumbies. I also like Gaelic football.
I sell with my dog Goldie, a two-year-old Tenterfield Terrier. She comes everywhere with me because she has anxiety problems if I leave her at home. People come past to give her a pat and then want to buy a magazine, so she definitely helps.
One of the best things about The Big Issue is the community. I’ve known another vendor, Andrew, since we were 14 doing sports together. We even travelled to Spain together for world championships. I also know Bryan, another Canberra vendor. He’s a good man.
I think The Big Issue is doing a great job and helping support homeless people, which is good. I don’t really have plans for what is next, actually – taking it day by day. You’ve just got to take every day as it comes.
Murray sells The Big Issue around Florey and Jamison in Canberra
Interview by Tim Hall
Photo by Long Nguyen
Published in ed#762
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