Leonard Neill MURPHY'S LAW has an entire new meaning in Brakpan. Twenty abandoned children ranging in age from four to 17 agree there is simply no one like Gary Murphy, the man who saved their sanctuary. And the airfreight industry now looks on him as the Good Samaritan who came to the children's rescue. Managing director of Fast International, Murphy heard of the plight of the youngsters on a radio broadcast while travelling to his To page 6 From page 5 Pomona office from his Benoni home. The startling report revealed that 20 children faced eviction and would be homeless if an auction went through to recover costs of what had become a bankrupt operation. A social worker had filed a law suit against the home after the Brakpan Welfare Society closed its doors and she was out of work. The matter came before the Labour Court, who awarded her R281,762. With no source of income in sight, it meant the East Rand Children's Haven would have to close its doors as a welfare site. The well laid out property and modern buildings would go to the highest bidder. But Murphy was touched by the news, and decided to investigate. He had been working with similar homes in the area, helping out needy children and even adults who had moved to these places of refuge. "I've always enjoyed helping the needy," he said. "When I heard of the Haven's plight I decided something had to be done. I decided to make a bid for the place, but in case someone was going to bid high for it, I started looking for another venue where the children could be housed if they had to leave the Haven." Murphy's offer of R300 000 was accepted by the sheriff's office at last Friday's auction and 20 overjoyed youngsters gave a hearty three cheers to their new foster father.
