Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ray Greenbaum was the fifth and last child of Moses Greenbaum and Rosetta Marks.  He was bequeathed £500 by his uncle Gabriel Marks, who died in the wreck of the Empress of Ireland in St Lawrence River, Canada.  These funds enabled him to attend Wesley College in Melbourne from 1914-18.  He celebrated his Barmitzvah at the Bourke St Synagogue in 1916.

After leaving school, Ray joined Norwich Union Insurance Company as a clerk.  He was assistant secretary of the Jewish Young People's Association.  He was awarded prizes by the Insurance Institute in 1927 and became an Associate of the Incorporated Australian Insurance Institute in 1929.  He ensured that his employees kept their positions during the Depression and was one of the leaders of the Norwich Union social club.  He was eventually appointed Deputy Manager for Victoria of the Norwich Union Fire Scottish Union Insurance Group in 1957.

In 1929, Ray commenced his involvement with the Freemasons, joining the South Caulfield Lodge.  He became a Life Governor of the Freemasons' Homes in 1947. He rose to become Warden of the Lodge in 1951.  He was also a member of the South Caulfield Bowls Club and rarely missed a game.

Ray was a very keen home handyman, tackling anything from cabinet making, painting, concreting, plumbing and even electrical work.  He passed some of these skills on to his son Geoff and grandchildren.

Ray suffered a myocardial infarct in 1956 and was in poor health for the last few years of his relatively short life.  Nonetheless he and his wife Leah undertook a round the world trip in 1965 including the UK, Western Europe, North America and New  Zealand.