Member honoured by two tribes

Ray Adams has certainly achieved a lot in his life, but surely the most amazing came on a recent trip to Kenya, when he was made into an honorary Masai tribesman.
The Clematis resident was in Nairobi as part of his work with Rotary Australia when he was formally inducted as a member of the African tribe.
“I was treated like a chief, they draped flowers around my neck and danced around me, he said.
“There were a few things that I didn’t have to do to get in, such as killing a lion.”
Ray has been volunteering with Rotary for more than 30 years.
“I had friends in the metal industry who were involved with Rotary. I decided that it was time to put something back into the community.”
Since deciding to put something back Ray, has been involved in a legion of humanitarian projects including installing water systems in India, the Solomon Islands and New Guinea as part of the Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and delivering much needed facilities to impoverished populations.
His recent work in Kenya involved him opening the second stage of the Tenderfoot Self Help School in a place he described as one of the most poverty stricken he has ever come across.
“In the poor area of the city where we built the school are some of the worst slums I have ever seen,” he said.
“Around three million live there and at a rough guess I would say one million live in poverty.”
Ray has been involved in the Tenderfoot School project for four years where he has assisted in developing buildings and providing cooking facilities and educational materials.
Ray volunteers all his time and seeks no financial gain for any of his work “my reward is the smiles on peoples faces”, he said.
“When you see the looks on the kids’ faces and the joy it brings it is truly amazing.
“When I opened the school there were around 280 children who were all singing and dancing. They have nothing but they are so happy.
“I went around and highfived every single child.”
Ray’s work with Rotary has been recognised with numerous awards including the Paul Harris Fellowship award, Rotary’s highest honour, as well as the Rotary International award for services to mankind.
On Australia Day this year Ray was named Cardinia Shire Senior Citizen of the Year in recognition of his service to the local community as well as his work with RAWCS.
Ray described the award as very humbling.
“I was very honoured to be named Senior Citizen of the Year” he said.
“I think I beat all the other nominees because I was older so I have been able to do a lot more.”
As a teenager Ray enlisted in the Australian Navy and served on the Nurmurkah during World War II as part of the supply branch connected to the US Navy.
Ray said his time in the war was overwhelming.
“I was only 18 when I was sent overseas so I had to grow up bloody fast. I really didn’t know what to expect.
“My whole life was suddenly turned upside down.”
Despite this Ray says there were some good times in the Navy.
“I made some really good mates, some of them became life long friends. One in particular I am still friends with today.”
Ray’s lists of achievements do not stop there.
In 2000 he carried the Olympic flame through Gembrook as part of the Olympic torch relay.
The selfconfessed sports fanatic described the run as an unbelievable experience.
“It just came out of the blue. My darling daughter Carolyn nominated me.
“I went to a personal trainer beforehand because some of the hills in Gembrook are very steep.
“The run was fantastic. There were thousands of people in the crowd, It was on Channel 7 and I was featured in the Herald Sun.
“I still have the torch in the billiard room.”
During his younger days Ray was a keen sportsman playing football with Deepdene Football Club.
He also played cricket and tennis and later in life took up golf.
One of his greatest sporting passions is as a lifelong supporter of the Collingwood Football Club where he was involved for many years.
Seeing Collingwood break its premiership drought is still one of his fondest memories.
“I thought that I would never see it,” he said.
“It took 32 years but they finally won one.”
Despite his hectic schedule, Ray has always been able to find time for his greatest passion, his family.
Ray said he would not have been able to achieve all he had, had it not been for his wife, June.
“My wife has been my secretary all my life, without her I would not be anywhere.”
Ray and June have two sons, Geoffrey and Gregory, and a daughter Carolyn.
They have eight grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren with another on the way.
“Family is very, very important. At Rotary the sequence goes family, business then Rotary. “Family has always been the number one priority. We take a lot of interest in all our children and grandchildren. We are very proud of all of our kids.”
With such a long list of credentials Ray finds it hard to pinpoint one specific highlight.
“From a personal point of view the birth of our children and grandchildren has given me the greatest buzz, he said.
“Carrying the torch was a great honour, as was being named Senior Citizen of the Year.
“I have also taken great satisfaction from being involved in the Rotary projects and seeing the joy on peoples faces when you know you have done something to improve their life.”
Ray has no secrets about how he has been able to accomplish so much in his life, he has just lived by a simple philosophy.
“Life is very good, it’s all about what you make of it and remember, there is always a tomorrow,” he said.