Barry and 'Ike'

Guide Dogs not only bring independence to people like Barry, they become family and the most loyal of friends.

As Cairns Barrister Barry Murray works quietly at his desk, the copper-coloured eyes of a handsome black Labrador stare calmly over his shoulder.

The life-size portrait takes pride of place in Barry’s Chambers and the ever watchful gaze is a frequent topic of conversation.

“If I had the choice of talking about law or talking about ‘Norton’, I’d talk about ‘Norton’. He’d win every time,” Barry says.

Barry finds comfort in the picture. In August last year, the simple act of playing with a “dog friend” saw Norton sustain a fatal back injury. Despite months of physio, this faithful guide was still not able to walk , resulting in the heartbreaking decision to put him to sleep.

As reality sank in, Barry wrote to us saying: ‘Norton’ is my first Guide Dog. He opened up worlds for me I could never have anticipated. I cannot imagine how I will go on without him.

Local Magistrate Sandra Pearson has known Barry for almost 20 years and says no-one will ever really understand what he went through. “Norton was a breath of fresh air for Barry, they bonded from day one. He gave Barry a level of independence he’d never had before. It was quite profound,” she says.

Barry is well-known in Cairns, not so much as a Guide Dog user but as a Barrister with “an incisive mind and common touch”. “He has real integrity, a brilliant legal mind and a strong sense of what’s right. His memory is also remarkable,” she says.

Cairns Judge Sarah Bradley presides over Barry, and describes him as a dedicated professional with a keen insight into human nature. She fondly recalls the day Barry was on his feet speaking when a man known to the accused suddenly stood up in the back of the court in angry protest.

“‘Norton’ lifted his head and gave a deep bark which took us all by surprise, Barry said something to settle him and it was all over, but the intruder got the message!” she said.

Blind from birth, Barry studied law at the University of Queensland and quickly excelled after landing a job as an Associate in the Supreme Court of Queensland. He worked for the Director of Public Prosecutions (Qld) as a Clerk and ended up Crown Prosecutor. He became a Barrister in 1996 and lectures law students part-time at James Cook University.

An extensive classical music collection provides escape from “dealing with the ugly side of life”, and in April this year, the light came back into Barry’s life when Guide Dogs Queensland matched him with a new Guide Dog called ‘Ike’.

A conscientious and sometimes goofy young Labrador cross Golden Retriever, ‘Ike’ is healing a deep wound within Barry, whose favourite past time is once again, “chilling with the hound”.

“‘Norton’ fitted in so well and I think my friends are just relieved to see me matched with another Guide Dog so quickly,” he says.

None more so than Judge Bradley who recently saw Madame Butterfly with the pair. She said ‘Ike’ took a keen interest in the opera, watching with his head poked through the two front seats.


"Just as the main character went to commit ‘hara kiri’, ‘Ike’ saw the knife and let out an unexpected Woof. The entire audience burst out laughing, it wasn’t the ending we expected but it was wonderful,” she said. Back in Barry’s office, ‘Ike’ stirs at his feet, stretches and completes his yawn with a cheeky grin.

As Sarah said: There’ll always be a special place for ‘Norton’, but they’re both gorgeous dogs.

Guide Dogs not only bring independence to people like Barry, they become family and the most loyal of friends. Each is unique and despite the $30,000 it takes us to train each one, we provide them free-of-charge, thanks to your support.

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