Scooter brings new lease on life

Long-time Belmore local, Ray Aboud, has been recently rocking the wheels of his new mobility scooter courtesy of a $6,000 donation from Canterbury League Club which helped purchased that and a wheelchair.

Last year, Ray lost his right leg after doctors had to amputate it below the knee due to blockages in the veins of his leg.

“I had 6 operations prior to that to try and save the leg but unfortunately the end result still came to amputation for me,” said Ray.

Before his operation, you could always catch up with Ray as the owner and operator of Ray’s Tailor on Bridge Road where he was known as the go-to guy for his excellent tailoring skills if you needed clothes alterations.

He learned how to sew in the family business back in Lebanon when he was 10 years old. When he migrated to Australia when he was 17, he continued the family tradition of sewing.

“I have had my tailoring business in Belmore for 40 years at three different locations – first at Belmore Railway station in 1982; then down the road, south on the Boulevarde; and eventually next to Canterbury League Club where I have been for the last 18 years,” said Ray.

“I chose Belmore because I love the Bulldogs and I have been a fan for the longest time. I wanted to be a part of the Bulldogs family and be amongst the atmosphere.”

“When we heard about Ray’s plight [from Belinda Nakhl], we knew we had to help out since Ray has been an integral part of the Belmore community for decades. He has offered his tailoring services to the community and done it a smile on his face for all these years, and this is our way of giving back,” said Paul Dunn, Chairman of Canterbury League Club.

Belinda: “I have known Ray for almost 34 years. I used to work at a Belmore solicitor, and I needed a skirt fixed one day. I noticed that there was a tailor at Belmore station, so I went and saw him. Our friendship developed very quickly from there and I came to care for Ray like a family member. My children, Amy and Stefan, call him Uncle Ray. Ray does not have family here and has no children of his own, so it is nice for them to have this relationship.”

Belinda Nakhl with her family, children Stefan and Amy, and husband Andre together with Ray and his new scooter