Tributes flow for Ray

Ray Dunlop was killed in a crash on Australia Day.

Contributed

FAMILY and friends of Ray Dunlop reflected on the life of a hardworking, straight-talking and loyal man who made the most of life right up until its final moments.

Mr Dunlop, 76, was on a short drive to collect the morning paper from the nearby township of Kalbar when he crashed his ute into a tree.

The proud Aussie, who always kept a flag flying out the front of his Roadvale property, died on Australia Day.

Son Warren Dunlop, who worked nearly 40 years alongside his dad for the G James glass company, paid tribute to Ray's work ethic and business sense.

"He left school at 14 to work at Brisbane Mirror Company," Mr Dunlop said.

"He had to work as a labourer for two years before he could even start his apprenticeship."

He became a foreman of South Queensland Glass at Currumbin, but an even better opportunity arrived in 1971, when he was asked by the then owner of G James - the late Joe Saragossi - to open a new branch at Southport.

"In 1987 Dad was offered a manager's position to run 15 branches from Cairns to Lismore," Mr Dunlop said.

Ray continued in the role until his official retirement in 1995, but remained with the company as a director until his death.

His contribution to G James was enormous - the company had 100 employees and had $1 million in sales in 1971, and today has 2300 employees and averages about $300 million in sales.

G James managing director Lewis Saragossi - son of Joe - paid tribute to the man he described as a charismatic, born leader.

"Ray was very much a confidant to my father; a key adviser and a very important contributor to the company,' Mr Saragossi said.

"My father had tremendous respect and loyalty for Ray and his ability and Ray gave the same back.

"Ray built strong relationships with everyone from the factory floor right through - he was a straight shooter, very pragmatic and didn't muck around.

"My father saw Ray as a son and Ray was like another father to me."

Outside of work, Ray loved his cattle and was a regular visitor to the saleyards at Silverdale, Boon- ah and Kalbar. There was even a minute's silence for Ray at the saleyards on Wednesday.

In 1960 he purchased a dairy farm at Harrisville, near Ipswich, with then wife Frances.

Ray purchased his 20-hectare Roadvale cattle property about 1989, with son Warren moving across the road a few years later.

"Dad and I were extremely close - even though we worked together and lived across the road, I visited him every day," Mr Dunlop said.

Family members believe Mr Dunlop, who had experienced heart problems from the age of 59, suffered a medical condition before veering off the road on the morning of January 26.

Despite his medical history, family members said they were shocked by Ray's death because he had been looking healthy and happy leading up to the tragedy.

Ray left behind his partner of many years, Joan, as well as his children Warren Dunlop and Debbie Francis, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Two hundred attended his funeral at the Boonah Uniting Church yesterday.