That gamble was in real estate in Forster in the late 1950s, just two years before the opening of the bridge connecting the twin towns of Forster-Tuncurry.

It was a time of growth and opportunity and the sign on the side of Ray's business summed it up - "If you're thinking of stopping, see Startin".

Raymond Lindsay Startin died on July 11, 2021, aged 92, and his funeral service was held at Holy Name Catholic Church, Forster on July 20. Due to the public health order in place because of the COVID pandemic, the number of attendees was limited but the service was livestreamed.

Ray grew up on his parent's farm at Dyers Crossing. His dad John (also known as Jack) had met Emily Croker, from Dargavilles Road, at a dance at Krambach. They married and had eight children, five boys and three girls. Ray was the third youngest.

Ray and two sisters rode a horse seven miles (11 kilometres) to primary school at Khoribakh, with his youngest sister Val sandwiched between him and Ruth. The horse would spend the day in the paddock beside the school, and the three Startin children would make the seven mile ride home. Khoribakh School no longer exists, sister Ruth informs.

Ray then attended Taree High and achieved the intermediate certificate.

Ray met his wife, Clare Wisemantel, from Bucca Wauka, at a dance at Krambach and they were married in 1955 at the Catholic Church at Krambach. Ray was share-farming on his father's dairy property.

It was 1957 when Ray and Clare took a gamble. Having decided that farming life wasn't for them, the couple moved to Forster.

Ray started his real estate business, Ray Startin Real Estate, and Clare opened Clare's Shoe Store in neighbouring premises in Wallis Street. They lived in the small flat out the back.

Ray was conscious of the need to move with the times. In 1966 he built a new premises and by 1974, his real estate business needed more space so Clare closed the shoe store and Ray's business gained more office space. In 1982 he opened a modern office and shopfront in Wharf Street, Forster.

Ray played a major part in the C H Degotardi sales program of Anglers Paradise, Green Point, Pipers Bay and Smiths Lake. He was also associated with the Haining and Pearlman land sales at Diamond Beach, Black Head and One Mile Beach.

Ray was involved with the builders and developers of Forster's first high rise quality units, Oceanic and Ebbtide on the beachfront. His firm was involved with holiday and permanent lettings.

Later Ray and Clare's son Gary joined the business and studied for his real estate licence after leaving school. In 1985, Ray purchased the real estate business of James Douglas in Tuncurry's main street and Gary became the licensee.

Ray saw a lot of Forster's magnificent years of development. He could recall the long line of cars that moved slowly along the street, waiting their place on the ferry to cross the lake to Tuncurry. At six cars a trip, and two trips per hour, it was often a long wait.

The population of the area around that time was about 3000.

Then on July 16, 1959, the Forster-Tuncurry bridge was opened by the then Premier of NSW, Mr J J Cahill.

Ray had a passion for Forster. "I feel it has a tremendous future," he said in 1987, when his firm joined Elders Real Estate.

"It is the most attractive area on the coast and one of the best climates in the world. We are finding at present (1987) that there is an increasing interest with people looking for homes, for land for future building and for unit."

As a 17-year-old Ray joined Black Head Surf Club. He was a strong swimmer and was a surf belt champion. He also loved tennis, cricket and rugby league.

He and Clare worked as volunteers in Forster's first triathlon, the Nutrimetics Tri, and he was involved with the Oyster Festival. L J Hooker, who Ray was working for, had a float in the festival.

He was also part-owner of the Bellevue Hotel which famously had a swimming pool in the beer garden.

Ray and Clare enjoyed overseas travel and celebrated their golden and diamond wedding anniversaries. Ray was a fitness fanatic, enjoying daily walk through to his later years, and Clare, who died in 2014, enjoyed daily swims at Forster Main Beach. They lived at Beaches International.

At 91, Ray was still taking an active interest in his business. He had a property in Wharf Street which he was thinking of renovating when neighbour Greg Gibson, of Unified Health, approached Ray about purchasing to expand his business. Ray gave it some thought, spoke to his son, and came back to Greg to seal the deal the old-fashion way - with a handshake. That was the last piece of business Ray conducted.

Gary went into his own business of strata management and Ray, like to help out, delivering the mail daily. Ray loved paperwork, was good with numbers and had a good business brain but would not give advice, as he didn't want to be responsible for bad advice.

He often told niece Gloria Newton to "sail straight", so as not to go off course.