By Wendy Brewer
RAY Ducat was born on March 8, 1943, the fourth child born to Don and Em Ducat.
He grew up in the family home on the corner of Corio and Nixon Streets, next door to the family business, P. J. Ducat and Sons, a milk company which was started by Ray’s grandfather, Percy Ducat, with his sons Don and Syd.
Ray attended the Fryers Street Primary School and was in the first intake of students at Gowrie Street School. He completed his secondary education at Shepparton High School.
After graduating dux of his class from the Chandler Institute of Technology, Ray returned to the dairy full time and soon became the manager of P. J. Ducat and Sons.
Under his management, Ducat’s milk became renowned as the best quality milk in Victoria.
Over time, Ray became known as a leader and innovator within the Australian beverage and food industry. One of his most popular and famous innovations was a cordial product packaged as Mr D’s Cola.
Another of his many notable achievements was the introduction of a frozen milk product in a plastic pouch called ‘Milky Freeze’. Four million were sold in just the first two years.
Ray is survived by his wife Carmel and children Michelle, Jacinta, Kylie, Rachel and A.J. and their families.
According to Carmel, Ray was a very humble man, who put everyone else’s needs before his own and was always looking for ways to be of assistance to others.
Ray once told Carmel that he estimated he had donated more than a million dollars to local charities and sporting clubs over the years. Many thousands of dollars’ worth of drink products was also given away, much of it to junior sport clubs which Ray was always especially keen to support.
Generous and kind-hearted, Ray was a man who hated to say no to anyone in need.
Asked to tell a story that sums up the kind of man Ray was, Carmel tells of being away on holidays in London, where they came across an old man with no legs who was on the street, begging.
Late in the afternoon, the wind was just starting to bite, and the old man was wearing just a thin jumper. Carmel and Ray surmised that he may have been from Romania. The man spoke no English and looked like he was freezing cold.
Ray was wearing a warm, good quality, grey leather jacket that day. According to Carmel, Ray approached the gentleman and said, in his broad accent, very slowly and loudly: “I’m Australian. We’re going back to Australia, would you like this jacket?”
Carmel says, “You hear of people ripping a jacket off, well, he ripped it on! He was just beaming from ear to ear and nodding his thanks.”
As they left, Carmel could feel tears trickling down her face, Ray turned to her and said, in a voice that was squeaky with emotion, “That makes you feel good, doesn’t it?”
“The smile on the old man’s face was his reward, Ray just liked to make people feel good,” Carmel said.
Ray Ducat passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021.
He will be remembered as a person of integrity who exhibited a rare generosity of spirit and someone who was highly regarded by all those who were fortunate enough to meet or know him.
May he Rest in Peace.
