Ray Stanley
Human Resources
Cultural Heritage (Male), Finance Support
Appointed October 2022
Ray Stanley was born in Mitchell in 1952. His parents were Edward Stanley and Helen Saunders, daughter of Frank and Ivy Saunders,and great grandson of Mosey and Lily Saunders. Helen, along with Henry ( Finnigan) Saunders and Kenny Jackson were removed to the Bush Children’s Home in Scarborough as young children and returned prior to World War II.
Ray completed Year 10 at Mitchell SHS before attending Roma SHS for Year 11. Two years later saw the successful completion of a Certificate in Agriculture in WA.
He returned to Mitchell and worked on several properties, Richter Drilling, driving earthmovers and road trains for Victor Saunders and surveying power lines throughout the Maranoa district.
Ray and Suzanne Busiko left Mitchell to begin teaching studies in 1975. After completing his Diploma in Teaching, they moved to New Zealand for a 3-year working holiday before returning to further University studies as a Secondary Teacher. He spent a total of more than 40 years as a teacher specialising in Design and Technology and Graphics.
Ray has had extensive experience as a Sport Director, having been awarded Life Membership of BMX Australia and Townsville BMX Club. He was instrumental in setting up the Australian BMX High Performance Program and in his capacity as Head Commissaire trainer for the Union of Cycliste (UCI) and officiated at numerous world championships, 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
He was appointed the inaugural interim Chair of the Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation in 2012 and then moved on to President of Gunggari Aboriginal Property Association for several years. Ray has completed the Cert IV in Indigenous Leadership in 2012.
He was elected as a director of the Corporation in 2022. His portfolio is Human Relations.