Co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous in Australia in July 1945.

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Australian Dictionary of Biography entry: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murphy-richard-james-francis-11205

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

Pastor; born Dublin, 24 April 1875; died Sydney, 13 November 1957, aged 82.

Richard Murphy entered the Society at Tullamore, 7 September 1892, completed his juniorate studies at Milltown Park, Dublin, 1894-95, studied philosophy at Jersey, 1895-98, and then was sent to Australia and St Ignatius' College, Riverview, and St Patrick's College for regency, 1898-1905. During that time he taught, was involved with prefecting and helped with the library and music. At St Patrick's, he was involved with the professional men's Sodality. He returned to Dublin, and Milltown Park, for theology studies and completed tertianship at Tronchiennes, 1909-10.

Upon his return to Australia, he spent a year at St Aloysius' College, before being appointed superior of Loyola College, Greenwich, where he was involved with men's retreats and pastoral work. He was also socius to the master of novices, 1914-15.

He was appointed the first superior and parish priest of Toowong, Brisbane, 1916-19, where he remained until a serious illness saw him once again in Melbourne at the parish of Richmond. Then he spent a year at Riverview and a year in the parish of North Sydney, before being appointed priest in charge of Lavender Bay in 1922. He returned to the Toowong parish, 1924-33, during which time he built the present Church. In 1933 he went to St Mary's, North Sydney, where he spent the next 20 years.

During all his active priestly life he took a great interest in university students and professional men. With Dr Herbert 'Paddy' Moran, he inaugurated the Catholic Medical Guild, of which he was the first chaplain in 1934. He was also instrumental in forming similar guilds in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Bathurst, Goulburn, and Young. He wrote The Catholic Nurse (1923), and several pamphlets.

Some years later he initiated the Catholic Chemists' Guild and the Sydney Campion Society. He took a live interest in the Newman Association of Australia and in the formation of the Teachers' Guild, for teaching religion in government schools.

Alcoholics Anonymous was another body in which he took a great and practical interest. In all these and other activities that claimed his care and organising ability, his knowledge of human nature and common-sense approach endeared him to countless friends and associates. His last years were spent in retirement at Canisius College, Pymble, from 1955.

Murphy was one of the best-known and most successful parish Jesuits. He inaugurated the Toowong parish and organised it very well. He founded the Catholic Tennis Association in Brisbane and helped to found it in Sydney. As a superior he was perhaps inclined to be too diffident, but he was very prudent and level-headed and a sound and careful organizer. He was full of enthusiasm without being extravagant, and was able to communicate his enthusiasm to others. Though he learned to drive a car, he always preferred to walk as long as his legs would carry him.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)