Yet old man time hadn’t figured on a hellbent mind open to change.

Ray was presiding over the annual Elly Stig Memorial Golf Day – a fundraiser in honour of his grand daughter who was taken by cancer as child.

He initiated the event 25 years back, and he was asked some time along the journey how long he would keep it going.

“I told ‘em 25 years,” Ray chuckled – and 2019 was the 25^th, but he’s had a rethink and reckons there’s life in the old girl yet.

Ray’s openly warm manner masks a man with determination by the bucket-load.

“We have become cancer’s worst enemy,” Ray told the near 200 golfers who hit The Island Golf Club rooms for the presentation, raffle, auction, and … more beers.

“Maybe before I am pushing up those mighty red and green flowers we’ll find a cure to cancer,” he said in a nod to his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs.

He asked no one in particular if they had ever stepped inside a children’s cancer ward – “because that’s something I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy”.

It’s doubtful Ray would have any foe – just friends, and he was stunned by the support of local businesses and individuals for the fundraiser.

“It never ceases to amaze me, the generosity of the town,” Ray said – as he revealed a scoop for next year’s event.

A Canterbury Bulldogs promotional jersey – framed and signed by the legendary Hughes and Mortimer brothers – was among those gifted for the auction. One of that famed clan, Mark Hughes, texted Ray today to ask how the event was going, and blurted that he was keen to come up to Nambucca Heads to play in it next year.

While golf – an ambrose competition – was the order for the day, and scores were kept, the emphasis was squarely on having fun more so than putting some hurt on a dimpled ball.

So much so that the most keenly sought title was that of ‘best dressed group’.

The Urunga field hockey boys found their inner aloha and turned out in the brightest of colours only to be outdone on the Hawaiian front by another group for the honour.

Sunday’s event raised nearly $18,000 – bringing the total over the years to $400,000-plus.

Enjoy the gallery.

See who we snapped at today’s Valla Lions Fair

Explained – the new rules to golf