Raymond George Hall “Ray” December 18, 1924 - April 15, 2019

Aged 94 years
Late of Jamberoo NSW
Passed away peacefully at Regis Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast.

Loved Husband of Wilma (dec’d).
Dearly loved Father and Father-in-law of David and Julie and Sharen.
Loved Grandfather of Sam, Tanya and Heath, Mark, Alana, Mat and Danika. Great Grandfather of Jayden, Boadie, Kai, Madison, Trey and Nixon.

For ever in our Hearts
Privately cremated.

Article from the Kiama Independent Newspaper – December 17th 2014

ONE of Kiama township’s “hard-working guys” celebrates a key milestone this week.

Kiama resident and long-time business personality Ray Hall turns 90 on Thursday.

The Halls moved from central NSW to Kiama in 1932, where the family bought the butcher shop formerly owned by Jack Smith (now the Scoops Ice Creamery and Cafe site), renaming it Hall’s Butchery.

“My father George pulled me out of school at 11 to work at the shop,” Mr Hall said.

“I used to deliver by horse and cart when I was about 18, all around the town.

“It was fun; I’d go as far as Minnamurra.

“My dad taught me from the bottom to the top how to run a butcher shop.”

His father later sold the business, and Ray went to work for Ray Gamble in Shellharbour.

Five years after marrying Wilma, Ray started a poultry business at South Kiama.

“It was a good business, but when Woolies started stocking frozen chickens the trade dropped off,” he said.

The butcher’s shop at Jamberoo was on the market; the couple bought the business in 1962 and moved there in 1964.

“The council chambers had been vacant from when Jamberoo had a council,” he said.

“We converted the old council chambers into a butcher’s shop and residence, and were there for more than 30 years.”

The business was renowned for its award-winning sausages, the “Jamberoo snags” so popular that customers would travel from as far as Sydney and take home 50 kilograms.

Mr Hall said his lack of education inspired him to ensure children David and Sharen received opportunities that he never had.

“I can’t spell or write, but I ran a business,” he said.

“It is frustrating … never read a paper in my life.

“I’ve had a good life; I’ve got two great kids. I made sure the kids never wanted for anything.

“I’m a hard-working guy, but I loved butchery, I loved doing what I did.”

Shortly after retiring at 65, Wilma died.

Mr Hall, a former Kiama Knights reserve grade player and 18-time Jamberoo Bowling Club championship winner, moved to Blue Haven about nine years ago.

“When I left here to go to Jamberoo there wasn’t one unit; there was a thousand of them when I came back,” he said.

“The people haven’t changed – they’re still a happy mob.

“I like it very much; a good town, good people.”