Campfire catch ups with Ray from Warrnambool, VIC
Ray McGilivray is a family man; husband to Sandra for 41 years, father to 3 girls and 1 Kelpie Cross named Lucy, grandfather to 10 grandchildren, and Park Manager to 4 Discovery Parks, the current being Discovery Parks – Warrnambool.
Throughout his 11 years, Ray’s Discovery Parks career has always had a family-focus in mind; “I commenced as Manager with my wife Sandra at Perth Vineyards Holiday Park in the Swan Valley in 2009 to 2014. It was an Aspen Park which is now owned by Discovery. Wanting to get closer to Warrnambool, we managed Horseshoe Lagoon in Moama NSW for 8 months before the Manager retired at Geelong and we moved again to manage this park for nearly 5 years, again an Aspen Park taken over by Discovery. Finally, a chance came up to get home to Warrnambool and we moved in October 2018 to manage Discovery Parks- Warrnambool”.
It will come as no surprise that Ray’s most important advice to guests is to “enjoy the family atmosphere and relax, we all need to slow down and chill out”. And, one of the best places to do this in park is in the Camp Kitchen. If Ray was to invite guests for a BBQ, top of the list would be “my wife and family, they are everything to me, then my best friends, what a party!”.
But everyone needs a little time out and, when Ray’s not busy working at the park or hanging out with the fam, he’s busy with beers and bowls at his favourite local hangout, the Warrnambool Bowls Club.
Quick Q&A with Ray
What is the top secret about your region that you would share with guests?
Drive the Great Ocean Road which leads to Warrnambool. Once people get here, they don’t want to go home. There’s so much to enjoy; food, wine, beaches, fishing, wildlife, cheese, fantastic sporting facilities, horse racing with a 3-day May Carnival, spas, saunas…
Other than your park, what is your favourite park in the Discovery Park network and why?
Echuca. There’s a great feel when walking around Park, it’s right on the Murray river, has great facilities and is a good mix of tourist and annuals.
What is your favourite road trip song – the one you crank up and sing with the windows down?
Jewel – You were meant for me.
Drive the Great Ocean Road and find your way to Discovery Parks – Warrnambool, there’s a ‘Ray’ of sunshine waiting to greet you.
