Ray rewarded for lifetime of service

THE managing director of Townsville’s Morleys Funeral Home, Ray Valdeter, has been awarded the Australian Funeral Directors Association’s highest honour of life membership.

He has also received a life membership award from the Queensland association.

The association’s national president, Allan Piddington, presented Mr Valdeter with his award at its recent national convention in Hobart.

“Ray certainly deserves this high accolade and our sincerest congratulations,” Mr Piddington said.

He said Mr Valdeter exceeded the requirements of life membership on every level and in line with the organisation’s articles of association, having served as a national councillor for more than 10 years, also becomes an AFDA Life Councillor.

According to the association, life membership is its highest award and is only afforded to a person who has rendered such service to the association displaying outstanding knowledge, loyalty and dedication in pursuits connected with the profession and who in the opinion of its national council is a proper person to hold the distinction.

In accepting the award, Mr Valdeter acknowledged his “greatest supporter”, his wife Lyn, and business founders Basil and Betty Morley for their trust and support for him over many years.

Mr Valdeter has been a leading funeral director, manager and mentor for 47 years.

Now 74, he said it had been a journey and that he was “still going strong”.

“Time flies when you enjoy what you do,” he said.

He was the association’s Queensland president for two terms between 2001 and 2003 and 2013 and 2015.

He was awarded a Master Funeral Director Award and an association Distinguished Service Award in 2010 for outstanding service and commitment.