By Raquel Mustillo
TRANSPORT, sporting and charitable organisations have paid tribute to late Mount Gambier stalwart Ray Scott who has been posthumously awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for decades of community service.
After a long battle with cancer, Mr Scott died on July 13, 2020 at the age of 70.
Mr Scott – who joins his father on the Australian Honours List – was honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his significant service to the road transport industry and the broader community.
Australian Trucking Association chair David Smith said Mr Scott’s honours list recognition was “extremely fitting” and testament to the work members can deliver.
“Mr Scott played a significant role in the trucking industry, from humble beginnings his father’s family business, through to becoming a major shareholder in Scott Group of Companies, including the K&S Corporation,” Mr Smith said.
“Ray achieved a lot in his lifetime and made a great contribution the wider trucking industry, but in particular the general fuel and livestock sectors.
“As well as being a highly accomplished operator, Mr Scott was also well-known for his kindness and willingness to help those in need, as evidenced by his philanthropy and community spirit.”
Borderline Speedway club president Cary Jennings praised Mr Scott’s long-time charitable and participatory endeavours in sprintcar racing, saying he had been instrumental in supporting the club.
“He used to race an AP5 Valiant back in the day and he had a hot rod, super modified cars and later in life he had a couple of sprint cars,” he said. “Ray had a two seater he’d take people out on for rides during ride days.
“Whatever we would ask, he’d always help us out whether that was sponsorship or in-kind support.”
Mr Scott was a long-time supporter of the Castec Rural Mount Gambier Pioneers, the Generations in Jazz Festival, the James Morrison Academy and patron and benefactor of the Stand Like Stone Foundation until his death.
His philanthropy also extended to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Craniofacial Foundation, an Adelaide-based charity which provides support to families and patients whose lives have been affected by craniofacial conditions.
Craniofacial Foundation corporate manager Amanda Haskard said Mr Scott’s donations had been instrumental in helping achieve best outcomes for people suffering from craniofacial deformities and injuries.
“The money he donated helped support patients with craniofacial conditions and enable them to have life-changing surgery that they need in order to treat their condition,” she said.
“Ray was a generous supporter and we very much value his contribution.
“He had a very generous heart.”
In a statement, Mr Scott’s family said he would have been “honoured but humbled” by the award, adding his commitment and influence on the Australian transport industry was a lifelong passion.
“His life revolved around trucks from a very young age,” the statement said.
“There are not many types of trucks or machinery that he hasn’t driven, nor roads in Australia or America he hasn’t travelled. “His great joy was getting in his Western Star with his dog Effie and heading to his Queensland stations.”
The family said Mr Scott was dedicated to the development of the community and was generous with both financial assistance and time.
“[He] was genuinely interested when anyone wanted advice or a chat,” the statement said.
“He loved us, his family, dearly and we miss him greatly .
“We are so sad that he isn’t here to receive it in person.”
