Mahogany Creek’s Peter Ray remembered for resolve to serve

Mr Ray, born June 12, 1948, died on March 31, with a service held for him on April 13.

He studied electrical engineering in the Australian Navy, as well as law and economics at UWA.

He joined the navy and was posted to sea on board HMAS Stuart, escorting HMAS Sydney to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

He also trained as a submariner before his medical discharge after a drunk driver ran him down while Mr Ray, now a petty officer, was in the UK based at HMS Dolphin in Gosport, Hampshire.

Among his many injuries, he suffered a severe head concussion and his left shoulder was severely injured, severing nerves to the arm.

Three months after the accident he was flown home to Perth, where he underwent surgery on his arm but it was not successful and it was later amputated above the elbow.

Mr Ray was a member of the WA Wildlife Society, contributing to its activities and advocating to conserve WA’s flora.

He was also an active volunteer for many organisations, including the RN & RAN submarine associations, Vietnam Veterans, Friends of Kings Park, the Mundaring RSL and WA Museum.

Gifted a rare Rh antibody following a transfusion during surgery, he was also an avid blood donor and contributed about 880 donations to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service despite having only one arm to give from.

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