With his fans eagerly awaiting the tasty treats Don delivered to them each week, it was only a matter of time before he was asked to share his culinary secrets. Thankfully, he has – in the form of the cookbook Don’s Delights.
As a retired Pastor, Don McMurray has guided many through life. Now, he’s guiding people through the optimal way to make passionfruit slice, banana bread, liquorice pumpkin soup, biscuits and much more, selling his cookbook through Club Charlestown to raise funds for MND NSW.
It’s not his first foray into fundraising – Don has been an ambassador for MND NSW and held annual fundraising concerts in the past.
Community-minded Don even sought to inspire people to stay active, with the 92 year old releasing the ‘Golden Oldies’ exercise video to keep everyone fit during COVID lockdowns.
His efforts are all inspired by his beautiful wife June, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2009, and sadly passed away in 2011.
“She was a very Godly lady, we were married for nearly 54 years,” Don said.
June’s battle with the devasting disease began with a ‘shiver’. The couple had been planning to travel to Nepal to assist their Doctor friends from Newcastle by looking after their small Christian group whilst they did medical work, however it wasn’t long until an MND diagnosis stopped them.
“We were heading out on the water with a friend at Nambucca, and as we were pulling boat across reeds, June tripped in the mud and fell in the water. She couldn’t lift her leg,” Don said.
“We thought she just pulled a muscle, but when we went home she saw her physio, her left ankle wasn’t too good, so he said she should see a neurologist as it may be a pinched nerve in the spine. They did all the tests, and she was diagnosed with MND.”
Up until then, June had been the one in charge of the kitchen at home, lovingly preparing delicious meals for her family. She worried how Don would fare, so she began teaching him to cook.
“While the nerves controlling June’s muscles were closing down, she helped me learn to cook,” Don said.
“When she could no longer speak and I was feeding her through a tube in her stomach, she used to write me instructions in her little notebooks. Her handwriting had been beautiful, but was now just a scribble. Her last couple of entries were ‘Can you look after yourself’ and ‘Will you look after yourself?’.”
Don has certainly delivered on that promise. Not only did he learn to cook, but he eventually began regularly cooking for staff and doctors at the Charlestown Square Medical Centre and his local bowling club, Club Charlestown, where he plays bowls regularly.
Every Wednesday, Don delivered 21 pieces of a selection of cakes, slices and biscuits.
“I love to see the smiles on their faces, their favourites being looked forward to, and even when I make a ‘flop’, they still eat them – amazing!” Don said.
Soon enough, Don began receiving recipe requests, eventually culminating in the ask for an entire cookbook, with printing and selling sponsored and supported by Club Charlestown.
“I didn’t want to do the cookbook, but the Club insisted. I’ve been cooking here for 4 years, but they wanted me to do up a recipe book,” Don chuckled.
He collected some of his favourite recipes - some of his own, some inspired by other cooks (with his own special twist on them), and some from family.
His cookbook even includes some choice tips and tricks for ensuring your baked goods turn out perfect and look as good as they taste, no matter your experience level in the kitchen!
“If you can mix cement, you can make a cake!” Don said.
“I have always had the view that I should apply the Genesis 3 principle to cooking – if it looks good, people will eat it.”
And whilst Don holds humble views of his cooking wizardry, the rave reviews of his food meant many were eager to get hold of his cookbook. His initial print run of 100 copies sold out, with Club Charlestown continuing to print and sell more – already Don has raised $2,100 for MND NSW through sales of the book.
“They were only going to run off 100 copies, I didn’t know if they would sell,” Don said.
“It surprised me, and the Club said they were just going to keep on selling them.”
Don hopes to continue supporting MND NSW.
“I think we ought to try and support MND NSW, it’s pretty sad when people get motor neurone disease,” he said.
“I still preach from time to time and often mention MND - people come out of the woodwork. It’s a disease that affects so many people, anything you can do to support them helps.”
If you'd like to be a Community Fundraiser and support MND NSW like Don, visit mndblue.org.au or contact Kym at