On Friday 9th August three hundred plus past and present Glenorie residents gathered at the Glenorie Mission Church to remember and honour Ray Whiteman’s life and service to the Glenorie community.
Ray was just ten years old when his family moved to Glenorie from Camden. He completed his primary schooling at Glenorie Public school. The family became part of the then Methodist Church where Ray’s love for his Lord and the church was fostered.
At the young age of 20 he became the local Scoutmaster known as “Skip” to most of the boys in Glenorie. He worked tirelessly to build up the Glenorie Scouting facilities to be the envy of most.
Ray’s commitment to Glenorie extended to being on too many committees to mention here. Most memorable would be the many years he spent as President of both the Glenorie Progress Association and the Glenorie Memorial Hall Committee where he has left a lasting legacy of a photographic history of Glenorie and hand painted the stained glass windows. He also held the role of Vice President of the Glenorie RSL Sub-branch. Ray’s determination to hold the dawn service every Anzac Day, which attracted a record attendance this year, was legendary. Ray could so often be seen on hands and knees tending the gardens of Wal Buckingham Memorial Park and caring for the Cenotaph.
