Rebel With a Cause by Ray Avery. Random House $39:99
Ros from Chapters & Verses, Timaru writes:
About three years ago I chanced upon seeing a documentary on a television programme called Extraordinary New Zealanders. At the time I was doing the ironing and not really concentrating, but before long, the iron was unplugged and I rushed for a pen to see what information I could find about this amazing man – Ray Avery. With the help of my daughter we found contact details, and a Dinner Group I belong to arranged for him to address our meeting. Since then I have been following with interest his progress, and was delighted to hear that he was named New Zealander of the Year – well deserved!
Ray was born in England. His childhood was totally dysfunctional and he suffered terrible neglect. After some years living with his mother he was bounced around ever changing foster homes and eventually placed in orphanages. However, at twelve years of age he decided he could take no more and ran away from the orphanage, making his home for eight months under a bridge. Ever resourceful, Ray had an amazing ability to turn a penny into a pound, and to turn trash into treasure. He still sporadically attended school, but his real education was ‘life’ as he coped with every day living. He lived this way successfully until a cut became infected and he ended up in hospital. Expecting to be returned to an institution he was pleasantly surprised when instead of that, he came to the attention of Jack Wise, the gardening teacher at his school. This was a turning point in Ray’s life.
His early career path took him on the route of science. Through sometimes rather dubious means, he managed to make a lot of money and started to mix with the Upper Class. However, the novelty wore off and he realized he did not like the person he had become, so resigned from his work and travelled. Through a series of events, he arrived in New Zealand.
Ray made it his mission to change the lives of less fortunate people in Third World countries. Over the years he has invented inexpensive lenses for cataract sufferers, intravenous drips which can be used without power, infant formulas and low cost, effective incubators for babies. Most of these inventions come out of a workshop, which he has made in his garage, and help is largely voluntary. This truly is an amazing story – how one man can overcome childhood neglect and abuse and make it his mission to change the world.
An absolute ‘Must Read.”
Footnote:
Ros & Jeff who own the Timaru independent bookshop, Chapters & Verses, produce a monthly newsletter which they e-mail out to anyone who wishes to receive it.
The above piece about Ray Avery's new book is an example of the material to be found in the newsletter. If you would like a free subscription write to them at:
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