Our deepest condolences to Anne and the Mathieson family as we sadly advise the passing of the Chair of the Manly Community Forum, Ray Mathieson. He will be a great loss to not only his family but also the Manly community. Ray was diagnosed with an aggressive Glioblastoma or GBM brain cancer in September 2021 and after successful radiation, chemotherapy, brain surgery, a number of natural therapies, exercise and a strict diet he was determined to beat it with his trademark humour and love for life. He retained his drivers license post surgery and continued to chair the Manly Community Forum but his final meeting was in May 2022, succumbing to this terrible disease on the 21st July 2022.

Ray was involved in the Little Manly Precinct Forum for 20 years variously as the Chair and other executive positions. More recently he chaired the Manly Community Forum. He was a member of many local committees, community groups and clubs. As a long time member of the former Manly Council Harbour Foreshore and Ocean Beach Committee where he championed all things coastal, including the reduction of pollution flowing into the harbour from stormwater pipes, improving dinghy storage and the LM harbour pool. As a founding member of the Manly Cove Neighbourhood Maritime Watch he advocated for better and safer boating and boat ramp facilities at Little Manly.

Ray led the Little Manly Precinct Forum in successfully challenging Sydney Water and the then North Head Sewage Treatment Plant to reduce the number of smelly sludge trucks traveling down Darley Road and through Manly as well as reducing the odours emanating from the plant.

Ray was also an influential member of the former Manly Council Safety committee, working with the then local Police Commander to establish the highly acclaimed Liquor Accord that aimed to reduce late night violence in the Corso and surrounds. More recently he worked hard on behalf of the community to get the Northern Beaches Council to re establish the Safety Committee. Unfortunately he will miss its first meeting.

Ray represented the community on many former Manly Council committees, and did not relent with his community involvement after the amalgamation of the three NB Councils as he continued to participate in a number of Northern Beaches Council committees and consultations relating to the Manly Ward. Over the years he supported all our local representatives irrespective of their political affiliations, Federal and State members as well as Local Councillors, always welcoming them to the Little Manly Precinct and the Manly Community Forums. The community will miss his strong support and advocacy to make Manly, especially Little Manly, the wonderful place it is.

As a tribute to Ray the Mathieson family welcomes a donation to the Mark Hughes Foundation which funds research into this little known surprisingly common and ultimately devastating terminal brain cancer.

https://tribute.markhughesfoundation.com.au/page/RaymondJohnMathieson