Ray Stokie, 79, died on Monday after a battle with cancer.

“Ray Stokie is the best community volunteer Port Fairy has ever had,” fellow community leader Reg Harry said. “You name the group in Port Fairy, and Ray was involved in it at some time or another.

“He really showed the way to other volunteers in the town and was always the first to put his hand up to help out. He was an outstanding person.

“On top of his volunteer work, he also served the town well as the postie for many years. He was a very familiar figure riding his bike around the town delivering the mail.”

Mr Stokie was born and raised in Hamilton and moved to the coastal town in 1952 to take up a position at the post office, where he worked for the next 38 years.

He and his late wife Lorna raised six children and between family and work commitments, Mr Stokie was able to fit in his volunteer work.

He was among a group that was responsible for kick-starting the Port Fairy Surf Life Saving Club in the early 1950s after it had been in recess.

It was the start of a long contribution to the club, with Mr Stokie’s contribution to every executive role and more than half a century of service earning him life membership.

He was also a member of the Moyneyana Festival committee for well over 50 years and the RSL for more than 40.

Other groups to benefit from his passion included the Folk Festival, the Port Fairy-Belfast Lions Club, CFA, the football netball club and Probus.

Mr Stokie also travelled extensively, visiting 112 countries to broaden his horizons and giving him new ideas to benefit his local community.

In 2006, he was awarded an OAM for his service to the community. 

Mr Stokie’s funeral will be held at the Port Fairy Surf Life Saving Club today at 10.30am.