Ray moved into Sutherland Shire in 1942, setting up a plumbing business in Heathcote. In the summer of 1943-44, fire threatened his property and finding that there was no fire protection, Ray consulted with his neighbours and decided to form a bushfire brigade. That was the beginning of the Heathcote Bushfire Brigade.

He was captain of that brigade until 1952 when he became the Shire's first Group Captain. A major bushfire destroyed some twelve homes and hundreds of livestock in Engadine that year, and even though there were seven brigades in the shire, there was no real co-ordination of their activities. As a result of that catastrophe, Ray approached the Shire Clerk and proposed forming a Bushfire Advisory Committee. This was approved, and new brigades were formed and their areas of responsibility established.

Ray was the inspiration which saw a decade of big advances from 1950 to 1960 where, aided by the Bushfire Advisory Committee, improvements were made in workers' compensation, amendments to the Bushfires Act, improved pumping equipment, canvas hose, knapsacks and hand tools. These improvements benefited not only the Shire, but in many instances, the whole State of NSW. Radio equipment was tested in July 1957, and introduced shortly afterwards.

A base station was established in a small annex attached to Ray's home and overall control of fires was organised from that location until 1974, when it was transferred to an old cottage on the site of the current Fire Control Centre.

In October 1965, Ray was appointed by Council as a full-time Fire Control Officer after twenty years service as a dedicated volunteer. He continued as FCO until his retirement in 1976.

Ray died on the 11th January 1989 after a long illness. In honour of his achievements and the regard his fellow fire fighters held him in, the Sutherland Fire Control Centre was renamed after him, along with one of the fire boats from Woronora Brigade.

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