by Janice Calcei
Updated: 31 March 2026
Raymond John Arthur, later nicknamed ‘Jock’, was born on 6 March 1938 to Henrietta Celia Arthur (1911-1993) in Birmingham, England.
As an unmarried mother Henrietta (Ett) was probably sent from the family home in Swansea to Birmingham and confined to the workhouse under night-time curfews (lock and key) until she delivered her baby boy, Raymond John Arthur.
The orphanage information and records show this was where she remained with Ray for six weeks, until she signed him over to the nuns/Catholic orphanage where he remained until he was of age, 2 years. It is recorded that, as the Swansea orphanage did not take infants, Henrietta only did so on the proviso that once Ray was of age he would be transferred to Swansea. After signing him over in this way, Henrietta returned to Swansea and the family to live her life with family members.
Ray was eventually moved to the Swansea orphanage so Henrietta could see him, which according to records, she did. Jock has vague recollections of people coming to visit him and of three men in uniform also coming on occasion.
Ray was sent to Australia by the orphanage in Swansea without the consent or knowledge of Henrietta. It is thought that the nuns told her that he was adopted by a good Catholic family, something far removed from the truth. The “orphans” (though many were known to have parents and relatives) were sent to Canada, the USA and Australia. There is no documentation proving this was supported by Henrietta.
After approaching the Child Migrants Trust to find out more about where he came from, Ray was advised that generally the mothers were informed after the fact, if they were told at all. Or when the birth mother turned up to visit, the children were simply gone. Henrietta had no idea where Ray had been sent or to whom. Henrietta was told one thing and for his entire life Ray was told that he wasn’t wanted.
Ray….was selected for the voyage just by raising his hand.
South Western Times, Mon, 30 April 2018
“You put your hand up and that was it,” he said.
He earned the nickname “Jock” for his small size, having thought he could only end up as a jockey.
Ray Arthur’s life journey in Australia began when he arrived in Fremantle on 22 September 1947, aged 9, and was processed through two orphanages before finally arriving at Clontarf Orphanage. The Christian Brothers chaperoned the group of children out from England on the ship.
During the school holidays, the Christian Brothers would send the Clontarf children out to work on farms. In the years 1951-1952, Dardanup’s parish priest, Father Charles Cunningham, organised to bring the boys down to Dardanup to be billeted with local Catholic families for the Christmas school holidays
Luckily, Ray was billeted with the Panizza family. Once the boys reached 16 years of age, Clontarf was no longer paid by the British Government to clothe and house them, and Ray was out on his own. He returned to Dardanup to the Panizza family where he was welcomed to stay by Elizabeth Panizza (nee Busher).
Elizabeth lived and farmed in Dardanup with her four unmarried sons at the time, Andrew Garbelini (DBC), half-brother, and Tom, Peter and Bert Panizza. Ray became the fifth son. He was welcomed back to the Panizza family as an employee, friend and family member. Ray was known as Uncle Jock to the extended family.
Elizabeth passed away on 28 November 1956. Ray lost his loving carer and guardian. Peter then took on the role of guardian. Ray always referred to Peter as “Boss”.
Ray also became part of the Garbelini family and good friends with Francis, Robert and Thomas. They attended Junior Farmers meetings, dances and functions together.
While living at the farm on Panizza Road, Ray worked with the Panizza family, milking cows, morning and night and other dairy chores. He was also running his own steers of varying age and selling at the Bullock Bonanza Sale at Boyanup, receiving top price most years.
In the years that Ray was at Clontarf he was taught the sport of boxing. He continued the sport in Bunbury with Tommy Panizza or Peter driving him in for training, after all dairy chores were complete. He retired from the sport for a few years because of a nose injury and because he couldn’t take the punches. After five years, Ray returned to boxing training with Bill lvory at the Bunbury Police and Citizens youth Club.
Ray carried on his boxing career and reached his pinnacle in 1965 to win the Australian Amateur Featherweight Boxing title and the WA Featherweight Golden Gloves.
South Western Times, Mon, 30 April 2018
“That year I won everything, all the tournaments, and the biggest one was when I went over East and won the title,” he said.
“Any tournaments there were, I won them all just in that one year.”
In 1966 Ray was selected for the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica but a tragic car accident in January ended his career. He lost control of his car and rolled it in Clark St, Bunbury, losing two fingers on his right hand and injuring a third. He had been coming home from a Sportsman of the Year Presentation at Bunbury Town Council offices where he was awarded runner-up to badminton player Chris Hardwick. It took him a long time to get over the accident and the premature end to his boxing career.
It was through the Panizza family connection he began working at Piacentini and Son in earthworks and mining equipment under its founder Albert Piacentini.
Ray worked a variety of jobs with the Panizza and Piacentini families over the years, from a courier running parts out to mine sites, to looking after cattle. He was still going in to work working at age 80.
Ray has discovered he has relatives in Perth, Kalgoorlie, South Australia, Melbourne and Swansea in the United Kingdom. He has now retired to Wattle Lodge in Bunbury,
References:
- Charlesworth, David: Meet Ray “Jock” Arthur – a man who found his place – South Western Times, Monday, 30 April 2018.
- Roll-over ends star’s boxing career, South Western Times, Tuesday January 18, 1966.
Images:
- Image of Jock holding photo: Credit: Jon Gellweiler, South Western Times, Monday 30 April 2018
- All other images provided by Ray Arthur through Tom Garbelini
Dardanup Heritage Collective 