Raymond Raines is a good club man
By Stephen Anderson
Bowler Ray Raines (Rainzee) is a member of the Camp Hill Bowls Club and a returned Australian serviceman from the Vietnam War. At age 19 he served with C Company 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) which was attached to 1730 Airborne Brigade (USA), based near Saigon, South Vietnam. He served his second tour with 8RAR Nui Dat, South Vietnam. On both tours he was in the infantry as a combat soldier.
Ray is a happy go lucky guy who has supported both the men’s and women’s divisions over the past years. He is a regular at the barbeque during fundraising events and often donates items for the club raffles.
This year, on Remembrance Day 2020, Rainzee attended a memorial service at the Coorparoo RSL and Community Club to reflect, remember and lay a wreath for fallen soldiers. After the service, he played in the regular social bowls competition at Camp Hill Bowls Club. As this was Remembrance Day, Ray sponsored the raffle and supplied all the prizes. The main prize was a women’s collectable Remembrance 24-carat gold plated locket, which was won by Alan Cook (Cookie).
At the end of last year, Ray supplied and presented an engraved “Nuts n’ Bolts Bowler” trophy to the most deserved social bowler. Ray gave each bowler a medallion attached to a lanyard in the club colours to remember 2020. Ray’s generous spirit also extends to other organisations. One of the more interesting activities is when Ray puts his grey beard to good use by playing Santa Claus for Corporate Body Groups with monies raised for selected charities. Ho ho ho!
Ray’s main motivation is for veterans killed in action in Vietnam and those that have passed on since then (1965- 2020) to be remembered. Rainzee also believes his actions in supporting others helps him with his PTSD therapy. Thank you for all that you do, Rainzee. You are definitely a good club man.
