Brief bio

My full name is Dr. John Joseph RAY. I am a former university teacher aged 80 at the time of writing in late 2023. I was born of Australian pioneer stock in 1943 at Innisfail in the State of Queensland in Australia. After an early education at Innisfail State Rural School and Cairns State High School, I taught myself for matriculation. I took my B.A. in Psychology from the University of Queensland in Brisbane. I then moved to Sydney (in New South Wales, Australia) and took my M.A. in psychology from the University of Sydney in 1969 and my Ph.D. from the School of Behavioural Sciences at Macquarie University in 1974. I first tutored in psychology at Macquarie University and then taught sociology at the University of NSW. I am Australian born of working class origins and British ancestry. My doctorate is in psychology but I taught mainly sociology in my 14 years as a university teacher. In High Schools I taught economics. I have taught in both traditional and "progressive" (low discipline) High Schools. Fuller biographical notes here

Notes on my early education here and here

Some notes on my birth family

Epitaph

What would I like to be remembered about me long after I am dead and gone?

I would like it to be remembered that I too often experienced one of life's greatest pleasures: The first mouthful of cold beer on a warm day.

That pleasure will last as long as human beings are human beings, I believe

(Mind you: A Vegemite sandwich when you have a skinfull is nearly as good -- but that is for Australians only)

I am less certain about Bach. The last thing that people will remember about me long after I have gone will probably be: "He liked Bach". Will J.S. Bach continue to inspire people for a thousand years more? I think so. But beyond that I am not sure.

And here is a distinction that will be uncomprehended within a few decades of my death: "He coded FORTRAN with great ease". There are already few who would understand that distinction


Some wisdom

Haggis: A primitive peasant food dragged out of obscurity and given eternal life by a poet


"It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world's believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good disposition." — Thomas Jefferson, 1785


“When you see a ball on the road, make a full stop. There’s usually a kid running right behind it.” — Paulina Gomez


My favourite scriptures:

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 19:14)

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. (Eccl. 11:1)

My favourite words that were ever said to me: "It's good to be with you, John"



The way we were: My first graduation picture below, a very long time ago (1968) , holding a volume of the works of I.P. Pavlov. A total nerd -- but one who had girlfriends




Above: As I was in 2023

More pix -- wives first


Marrying DNB 1973


Honeymooning at Peregian with JP 1976


Jenny in 1984



Marrying Jenny


Jenny 2020


Marrying Big Kath. 1995

Jill, 1996




With first girlfriend Janet 1964


Joyce Hooper


Judith M 2004


The way we were. With Anne. 2006


Anne 2020


I too once wore black tie. In my early'50's at The Mansions restaurant on Petrie Terrace. Lady not shown as she took the picture


With the teenaged Joe in 2003


In 2005, when I was 62


Ladies at Glyndebourne: Anne and June. 2006

At Susan's wedding, 2009


Julie D. 2020


John 2020


With Mrs M. -- and Dosas. 2006


A country wedding. Joe & Kate, 2018

At Burra in 2018 for the wedding


Brother Chris


My gorgeous sister when she was a kid


Joe at Uni


Russ in trouble


Hatboy -- Matthew


Boys running: Matthew and Dusty


Multicultural Australia: Two cousins


Pixie Hannah


A sweet little soul patiently waiting: Elise

It rained (Ethan Foss)


My time in the Army




A testamur


Choices

Photo album for this blog HERE


Looking back

In the unlikely event that anybody wants to read what I wrote in years past, the archive links at the foot of this column make that easy.

The further back you go, however, the more you will encounter missing pictures. The net is like that. If you are interested in pictures you may therefore find it best to look at the single-page versions of these notes. I find it easier to keep the pictures up to date on them. They are as under:

current

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1993

1956