EVERYDAY PEOPLE - Leslie Raveneau - Family is everything

LESILE Raveneau, affectionately known as Les, was born in 1967 in the small town of Moree, New South Wales, nestled on the banks of the Mehi River. Les has an identical twin brother named Percy, and the bond between the two is palpable. Les is older by five minutes. Their mother, unaware she was expecting twins, was shocked when Percy arrived as she was wheeled back to the ward.

Les has six siblings—two older brothers and three sisters on his mother’s side, and stepsiblings on his father’s side. The connection between all the siblings is strong, especially after their mother passed away from cancer seven years ago. She was the family's rock, and her loss was felt profoundly.

His mother, a single parent from when the children were very young, worked tirelessly to provide for her family, always putting her children first. “Mum always told us to be ourselves and to be kind to others, no matter what,” Les recalls. This wisdom has guided him throughout his life.

In his later years, Les developed a close relationship with his biological father, a taxi driver in Moree. Les and his twin often rode in his father’s cab, not realising he was their dad. The twins thought they were on a good wicket as the driver never charged them. One day Les told his mum about it, and she revealed the truth. After that the brothers grew closer to their father, maintaining a strong bond until his passing four years ago.

Les attended Moree East School before being sent to a private boarding school in Orange, New South Wales, at age thirteen, along with his twin brother. Initially homesick, they soon adapted and embraced their new environment. The brothers were thrilled when they saw snow for the first time, Les recalls with laughter, “When we both saw the snow, we got excited and ran off. The staff finally found us on the main oval, lying in the snow making snow angels and having the time of our lives.”

Sports have played a significant role in Les’s school life. At just fourteen, he and his brother were selected for their school's First Eleven cricket team, a proud achievement for them both. Les still enjoys sports and was recently selected for the Queensland cricket team again.

A little-known fact is that Les and Percy were also tennis coaches in Sydney for many years. During his school days, Les even had the chance to play tennis with Todd Woodbridge.

In 1996 Les moved to Hervey Bay with his wife where his three children—Jaimi, 27, Sam, 25, and Hallie, 23 were born. Les and his former wife have remained good friends.

As a proud member of the Gamilaroi tribe, one of Australia’s largest Indigenous nations, Les cherishes his heritage and has ensured his kids also have a strong connection to their roots.

Les has been the Indigenous Engagement Officer at the local university for nearly eight years, a role he loves because it focuses on helping others achieve their goals.

The word community runs deep. Les helps organise NAIDOC Week events each year and serves on the Fraser Coast Mates committee, which focuses on mental health. A five-year veteran of the Dunga Derby by Rally for a Cause, he found this year’s event particularly special, as it marked the rally's tenth anniversary and included a drive-through of his hometown of Moree.

Les is a man of many talents; he is also an artist and created the Yabaa Gallery a few years ago. His artwork has been featured in art exhibitions, displaying his creativity to a wider audience.

By Kim Parnell

from What’s On Fraser Coast