Wings As Eagles - About Us

Ray was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1950 and developed an interest in flying whilst in his early teens. Failing an eye examination preventing him from a career in flying, he joined the Army in 1970 to learn a trade as a radar mechanic. 

He went on to graduate from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea in 1973, and later, due to a series of rather unique circumstances, was chosen to be an Army helicopter pilot.

Receiving his “Wings” in 1977, Ray served for a number of years as an Army pilot before leaving in 1981 to fly for the National Safety Council of Australia, Victorian Division (NSCA), a national search & rescue organisation. He went on to become the longest serving pilot with the NSCA before it collapsed eight years later.

Ray returned to the military for a number of years, but following a battle with depression was ultimately medically grounded and discharged from the Army, and set about writing his autobiography Rotor in the Green.

It was during the research phase of Rotor... that Ray came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour at age 44. Despite a brief return to flying, his life took a completely different direction, including a desire to serve God in the mission field one day.

Suzanne was born Suzanne Watts in Mullumbimby, northern New South Wales, Australia in 1954. She left school early to begin a family, and 11 years later went back to complete years 11 and 12. This was a commendable achievement for a mother of four young children.

Suzanne was then accepted as a mature age student by the University of Queensland at St Lucia in Brisbane where she gained a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English, Geography and History. She then went on to achieve a Diploma of Education.

Suzanne embarked on a career within the Queensland education system, undertaking a number of high school teaching positions in the Brisbane and Townsville areas of Queensland. It was during this time, whilst teaching Chinese History, that Suzanne developed a love for China.

Suzanne came to Christ at age 42, and as a born again Christian her ambition became to serve God in China one day. Her Church involvement of leading a Senior Youth Group, her attendance at Bible College part-time, and the missionary training activities she undertook prepared her well for God’s plans for her life.

Ray and Suzanne were both divorced when God brought them together in August 1999 at a Christian retreat weekend, and 10 months later they were married. Not long after this a teaching opportunity presented itself in Hong Kong. This then became home for the next four years, while waiting for the right door to open in Mainland China where they moved to in 2005.

Suzanne taught medical English to students at the Shantou University Medical College in Guangdong Province, while Ray improved the conversational English of medical students, post graduate students, and doctors chosen to go overseas for exchange, research, or for further study.

They returned to Australia in August 2009, where they are now "on the road" for a number of years with their Wings As Eagles ministry.

Along the way Ray and Suzanne became involved in orphanage work in China, and it was here that in 2002 they began a relationship with then 10 year-old Wang Xiang, who had been abandoned to the Chinese welfare system at three weeks of age in 1991.

When Ray and Suzanne were leaving Hong Kong to move into China they applied to foster Wang Xiang. She came to live with them the day after her 14th birthday in November 2005, and they gave her the English name Deborah.

Ray and Suzanne believe it is God’s Will for Deborah to be a part of their lives, and although their plans to formally adopt her were unsuccessful in China due to Deborah's age, they remain committed to ensuring that she achieves all God wants her to be through fostering.

On 14 May 2010 Deborah was granted permanent residency in Australia, and she looks forward to becoming an Australian citizen in 2014.

Updated 24May10