WA farm leaders pay tribute to late Pingelly grower Ray Marshall’s ‘unwavering commitment’ to grains industry

Tributes are flowing for Pingelly farmer Ray Marshall, who is being remembered as “one of the most influential figures” of WA’s grains industry following his death on March 8. “Incredible”, “selfless”, “legend” and “stalwart” are just a few of the words Mr Marshall’s friends and fellow industry leaders have used to describe him this week. A founding member and former president of the WA Grains Group (WAGG), he held many important roles during a career spanning decades. “His tireless dedication and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on the landscape of agriculture in our State,” WAGG chair Alastair Falconer said. “Ray played a pivotal role in shaping policies, advocating for farmers’ rights, and fostering collaboration within the industry through his many roles. “He has been one of the most influential figures in the WA grains industry. “ Mr Marshall’s involvement with WAGG was but one aspect of a lifetime dedicated to advancing the interests of grain growers across WA. An active participant in various committees — including the Grains Seeds and Hay Committee and the Grains Industry of WA Oat Council — his expertise was highly sought after. As an arbitrator for Grain Trade Australia, his passion for fairness and deep understanding of the industry saw disputes resolved equitably and impartially. As the driving force behind the Grains Council of Australia, he worked alongside fellow industry leaders to address challenges, share knowledge, and create a stronger, more resilient grain sector. Mr Falconer described Mr Marshall’s advocacy for Australia’s oat industry, which underwent a major transformation during his career, as “particularly remarkable”. “He described the oat industry as the poor cousin of other commodities like wheat and barley, but Ray and his colleagues were determined to change that perception,” Mr Falconer said. “In the early 1990s, Ray was a founding member of the Western Oats Alliance, a group that aimed to reconstruct WA’s struggling oat industry. “Their efforts paid off, and Australian oats gradually earned their place on dining room tables across the world. “Australia is now one of the world’s largest oat producers, with approximately 600,000 tonnes of grain harvested annually in WA alone, valued at a over $200 million.” Mr Marshall’s commitment to research and development led him to become a member of the National Grains Industry RD&E committee, where he contributed valuable insights to protect and grow the industry. As a Grain Producers Australia (GPA) director, he used his experience in research-related policy development and the development of the national grains research strategy to guide and support the organisation. GPA chair Barry Large said Mr Marshall was “a true champion and character” who would be missed by many. “Ray was a determined farm leader who contributed an enormous amount of his own time, resources and energy to benefit others — especially growers,” Mr Large said. “As well as being a passionate spokesperson, Ray also did a lot of work quietly behind the scenes, in the background, to work with others and help solve problems. “In expressing sincere condolences from GPA, our thoughts are with Ray’s family and friends at this time, and in particular our members in WA.” Mr Marshall was also a former president of the WAFarmers Grains Council. WAFarmers president John Hassell — a fellow Pingelly grower who farmed “next door” to Mr Marshall — said he was always “passionate about the industry and trying to get better results”. “He was a true champion for the grower,” Mr Hassell said. “He never gave up, and that was really the important bit, and he worked right until the very end.”