Australian Dictionary of Biography entry: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murphy-jeremiah-matthias-7706

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Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Murphy, Jeremiah

Teacher and administrator, born Kilkenny, Ireland, 13 July 1883; died Melbourne, 17 May 1955, aged 71.

Jeremiah Murphy joined the Jesuits, 7 September 1901, and studied in Ireland and Oxford, gaining an MA in classics. He later read a post-graduate course at the University of Oxford. After teaching as a scholastic at Clongowes Wood, he studied philosophy at Stonyhurst, and theology at Milltown Park, Dublin. He was ordained in 1916, taught in Ireland until 1920, and then was sent to Australia.

He taught at Xavier College for a short time, and was then appointed rector of Newman College, 1923-1953. He was responsible for the building of the chapel. During those years he also lectured in apologetics, tutored in the classics, was a consultor of the vice-province, and member of three university committees, the University Council, Union and Press Boards of Management and the Conservatorium Finance Committee. He was a confidant of Archbishop Mannix.

In recognition of his work for the university, he received an honorary MA degree in his earlier days, and, upon his retirement, an honorary LL D, the highest degree within the university's powers to confer for outstanding public service. The Queen bestowed on him the honour of Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1953. He died suddenly at Xavier College.

The fact that Murphy was left as rector of the College for 31 years, in spite of the custom of the Society and the prescriptions of Canon Law, is enough to show the extraordinary position he won and held for himself in the university and general educational circles in Melbourne. He played a leading part in the organisation of the National Eucharistic Congress in 1934, and was secretary to the Papal Legate, Cardinal MacRory. He was one of the pioneers and first speakers of the 'Catholic Hour' on radio, and also promoted the National Catholic Girls' Movement.

He was removed from Newman College in the end - not before it was time for his own sake - with a brusqueness that perhaps betrayed a feeling of temerity on the part of superiors. He obeyed but with much sadness. He was a man who was on better terms with those outside the Society than with his fellow-Jesuits. He had a remarkable presence that in any company could never be ignored. He gave Newman College a corporate identity in the wider life of the university. He worked with the Loreto Sisters in establishing St Mary's Hall.

He was particularly concerned with the place of the Catholic graduate in a non-Catholic world. He encouraged his students to mix with others and to integrate their spiritual life with the academic. He keenly encouraged the students to develop the natural virtues, and to apply their faith to business and professional ethics.

His personality was an enigma. He often masked under the facade of a forced wit what some felt was a deep desire for friendship. Certain artificiality occasionally caused misunderstanding. In his own field he was the most assured of men and among friends of long standing his manner was intimate and unstrained. His judgment was sound, and he was very tolerant. In many inter-collegiate affairs he was outspoken and firm in matters of importance. Like Newman, he was a man who combined intellectual gifts with great human endeavour.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)