Oermann Ray
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Ray Oermann's family dates back to 1848 when his great great grandfather - Ernest "Henry" Oermann, emigrated from Germany. He settled into the Gilbert Valley where he worked as a labourer for Thomas Giles at Giles Corner. His son, Ernest Edward, was born at Marocara at Giles Corner and married the daughter of Robert Messiter Cole - Suzanna Matilda. Ernest Edward was a Freemason at Rynie. The family moved from the mid north to the city and lived at Blackforest, Nailsworth and finally, Hindmarsh. Ray was brought up in Manningham, attending the Hampstead Primary School and the Anglican Church of St. Philip at Broadview. Ray was a year nine student in the inaugural year of Northfield High School in 1969. He went on to study Science at the University of Adelaide and upon graduation, completed a Graduate Diploma in Teaching.
At the conclusion of his studies, Ray married Heather (nee Fenwick) whom he had known since childhood. Their fathers worked in the same office (Carriage Design Office) for the South Australian Railways for over 40 years and families from the office used to holiday together on either road trips in September or on the South Coast in the summer.
Apart from teaching a year 6 class for one year at Parafield Gardens East Primary, Ray taught Physics, Maths and Science at the Salisbury East High School for five years.
In 1980, Ray and Heather moved from a townhouse in Enfield to a 10 acre property near Williamstown, where they built their first home overlooking the Barossa Reservoir. In 1982, Ray changed his career from teaching to become a Defence Scientist at the Defence Research Centre Salisbury (DRCS) - (formerly the Weapons Research Establishment (WRE) and now the Defence Science & Technology Group (DST Group) at Edinburgh). He undertook research into infrared systems and surveillance.
Ray attended the church of St. Peter at Williamstown where he was a Church Warden, Lay Reader, Lay Assistant and Synodsman. He played tennis for the Williamstown Tennis Club and the Cromer Tennis Club as well as basketball in the Barossa Valley Competition for the Barossa Bulldogs and Tanunda Echoes.
With all five of Ray and Heather's children attending Trinity College with Alison starting in 1988, Ray contributed to the governance aspects of the College by joining the College Council in 1992. He saw many significant developments at the College from these early days under Michael Hewitson as Headmaster. He saw the establishment of the Blakeview campus and the South campus as well as the Gawler River campus. Ray chaired the College Council from 2004 till 2014, within which period, under the leadership of Luke Thompson, the College re-structured into four R-10 Schools and one Senior College. Nick Hately was appointed Head of the College during Ray's time as Chair. Ray presented a brief history of Trinity College from a governance perspective to the Gawler History Group in September 2016.
Heather and Ray with their five children moved from their property near Williamstown in 1994 and, after a work posting in Canada for twelve months, moved onto another property at Bibaringa (nearer the children's school) where they built their current home. Ray now attends the Transfiguration Church in the Anglican Parish of Gawler where he is the People's Warden.
Ray's two sons, Michael and Andrew, joined the Gawler Scout Group as cubs and Ray became a warranted scout leader. He later took on the role as District Scout Leader for the Barossa-Light District. Ray played a significant part in the conduct of the 2004 Australian Scout Jamboree held at Woodhouse. He organised, with the assistance of other Scout Groups in the District, an off-site activity in the Belair National Park for 1500 scouts each day for 10 days.
Ray stood down from Scouting in 2004 when he enrolled to complete a PhD at the University of Adelaide. His research topic explored the measurement of atmospheric turbulence and how it impacts imaging through the air, close to the ground.
With all of Ray's children - Alison, Michael, Andrew, Catherine and Elizabeth, are now adults having produced seven grand-children. Heather still enjoys playing tennis and Ray enjoys racing his NACRA 5.8 performance catamaran at the Adelaide Sailing Club with Craig Loveday as his crew. Although not winning any races, they thoroughly enjoy the time on the water and the exhilaration of sailing fast. Occasional capsizes do happen.
From a career perspective, Ray has worked for the Department of Defence as a Physicist for 37 years and currently leads a Group in the Intelligence, Surveillance and Space Division, researching the technologies of electro-optics and infrared radiation.
Please <click here> to view a newspaper clipping featuring Ray Oermann and his photo.
click here to see his address to Gawler History Team on the History of Trinity College
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