October 4, 2021
Former Murgon Shire councillor – and well-known local businessman – Earl Pratt died on Saturday morning, aged 84.
His death was announced by family members on social media.
Mr Pratt, who was resident at Karinya, served on Murgon Shire Council for 16 years, from 1985-1997 and 2000-2004.
He had a life-long association with the livestock industry as well as being heavily involved in the local community through the Murgon Show Society, St Joseph’s Catholic Parish and the Murgon Dairy Museum.
He also played rugby league with the Murgon Mustangs.
Mr Pratt served terms as president of the Saleyards Association of Queensland, the Queensland Livestock Agents Association and the National Saleyards Quality Assurance Committee.
The Pratt family involvement in the livestock industry in the Burnett began in 1946 when Mr Pratt’s father Basil started a small agency in Murgon.
Earl joined the family business in 1954.
In 1960, he married Rita Mary Smith at St Joseph’s Church, Murgon, a relationship which lasted until Rita’s death in 2017. The couple had two children, Paul and Helen.
In 1962, the Pratt family started B.D. Pratt & Co. This business was sold in 1979 but Mr Pratt continued his association with the livestock industry by becoming a commission buyer for several meatworks.
In 1987, Mr Pratt and his son Paul started Pratt Agencies Pty Ltd in Lamb Street, Murgon.
In 2014, Mr Pratt was presented with the Distinguished Service Award at the inaugural South Burnett Business Excellence Awards, organised by South Burnett Directions at Kingaroy Town Hall.
A Requiem Mass from Mr Pratt will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Angel Avenue, Murgon, from 11:00am on Saturday (October 9).
