Mr Ray Walker JP FRVAHJ

My Story

I joined the then State Savings Bank of Victoria at the Avoca Branch and thus began my journey around Victoria.

My postings were many with a total of five years on the relieving staff one of three years as a single man the other two years as a married man. My permanent postings were Avoca, Swan Hill, Red Cliffs, Mooroopna, Rye, Jeparit and Donald. Sue and I married in November 1970 and started our married life in Swan Hill a far cry from Colac where Sue grew up. David was born in Swan Hill, Jenni in Red Clifs, Sue in Colac and myself at Avoca. I was appointed as the Branch Manager  to Jeparit, and Manager to Donald. In 1992 the State Bank became the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and after almost thirty years I was made redundant. We as a family made the decision to stay in Donald and built our current home backing on to the local Golf Course. One of my bank staff members suggested I might apply for a position on the Local Hospital Board I was elected and very quickley became Treasurer, a position I held until the merger to form East Wimmera Health Service a combination of three public Hospitals and two Bush Nursing Hospitals to form the East Wimmera Health Service. I was appointed Chairman of that Board and served in that position for two very turbiliant years, after serving a total of twelve years on hospital boards.

After my Banking career was brought to an abrupt halt, I joined the local farm machinery firm,  Michaels of Donald P/L on the  9th March 1993 as finance Manager, it was at that time I was asked to put my name forward to become a JP which I did and supported by locals as individuals and organizations a combination of three induvaldies or societies totalying five in all, I was sworn in at St Arnaud court before magistrate Tim McDonald with Sue and my brother as witness. I had been used to signing documents as a Bank Manager the people of Donald would ask me in the street  and generally with the opening line of “Ray your a Bank Manager” can you sign this stat dec for me my stock reply went something like this “no I cannot sign as a Bank Manager but I can as a Justice of the Peace” oh your one of them I suppose I can still trust you.

The idea of a Bank Manager and a JP both fit the mould in the eyes of the public as someone who can be Trusted, Respected and Independent.

Other notable events include…

• Life Member Apex 1986

• Life Governor East Wimmera Health Service 2003
• Life Member Donald History and Natural Group 2014
• Chairman East Wimmer Healthe Service Board two years
• Foundation Chairman Buloke Branch RVAHJ
• Board Member RVAHJ appointed 2006
• Chief Finance Officer RVAHJ appointed 2008
• Branch Liaison Director Responsible for Buloke, Wimmera and Sunraysia
• Director responsible for restarting Wimmera Branch.