Trafalgar honours Ray’s RSL service
Trafalgar Thorpdale RSL president Ray James has been awarded Trafalgar’s 2018 citizen of the year for his contribution to the community.
Mr James said it was an honour to receive the award. “But I believe there are people worthier than me who maybe are not in the limelight as much.”
In 1992, the Trafalgar RSL sub-branch was disbanded due to lack of numbers and interest in the town.
In 2004 the Thorpdale RSL also faced folding and Ray put out the call for a possible amalgamation of the Trafalgar and Thorpdale RSL branches.
This was successful and in February 2007 the TrafalgarThorpdale RSL sub-branch received its charter. Ray was the inaugural president and has been president ever since, leading a 200-plus member RSL sub-branch.
He regularly invites schools to the RSL and under his tutelage, conducts educational programs. Ray always presents these programs so that all the students are involved and feel part of the moment when he is talking.
Ray works tirelessly for the RSL sub-branch and the Trafalgar community generally.
Ray has spent many volunteer hours improving the almost 100-year-old RSL building through applying for grants and organising and undertaking a lot of the work required getting the building up to code.
He put in place a two-year project to renovate and extend the sub-branch hall, which was built in 1922 by local World War I veterans, to accommodate and relocate an 8m x 2.5m World War I honour roll from the old shire offices.
In the same period, Ray’s strenuous efforts in organising local tradesmen and volunteers resulted in relocation of the Trafalgar cenotaph to the RSL.
Ray has ensured that eight surrounding towns have Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services. Ray also drives around to the schools of these towns and drops off and picks up all donation tins.
He visits veterans at Andrews House and also elderly members at their homes. If any veteran or member is ill or needs for something, Ray is the first one there to help. He organises meals when members are sick and anything else they require.
Ray was awarded the Baw Baw Shire citizen of the year award in 2014 and honoured with life membership of RSL Australia 2016 in recognition for his contributions and efforts.
The judges commended Ray for his tireless work on behalf of the Trafalgar Thorpdale RSL sub-branch and the wider community.