Ex-Geelong Cat Ray Card charged over crash that killed partner Mandy McDonald

The victim of a tragic crash that resulted in the arrest of her partner and former Geelong player Ray Card is being remembered as a “much loved” and “respected” mum.

Centre (L-R) Mandy McDonald and Ray Card together at a Geelong Cats past players function.

The victim of a tragic crash that resulted in the arrest of her partner and former Geelong Cats player Ray Card has been identified.

Friends, family and colleagues have been left “utterly floored” by the death of much loved mum and longtime Kellogg’s employee, Mandy McDonald, who was killed when the car she was a passenger crashed on the Geelong Ring Rd on Saturday night.

Card, who played 110 games for the Cats between 1977 and 1987, has been bailed to appear at the Geelong Magistrates Court on November 26 following the horror smash.

The 67-year-old was badly injured and placed under police guard at the Royal Melbourne Hospital before being charged with culpable driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death.

He faces jail if found guilty and convicted of the crimes, with the former charge carrying 20 year maximum sentence and the latter 10 years.

Ray Card has been charged following the tragedy. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Ms McDonald, 57, had worked in the Victoria field sales team at the now rebranded Kellanova for more than nine years before her life was tragically cut short.

One colleague said she was an admired member of the company in her role as a territory manager in Geelong.

“Everyone has been utterly floored and devastated,” she said.

Kellanova Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand, Anthony Home, said staff had been left “deeply saddened” at her loss and the company had extended their heartfelt condolences to her family, including her two children.

“We will provide them with any support we can as they navigate this most difficult time,” he said.

Support is also being offered to employees following the tragedy.

Mr Home said Ms McDonald was a “much-loved and respected member” of the Kellog’s team and had been servicing the Geelong region “for close to 10 years”.

“During her time with us, Mandy developed many close friendships across the business, and we are supporting our team as we come together to process this devastating loss,” he said.

She had previously worked in similar roles within the consumer goods industry with Peters Ice Cream and Devondale Murray Goulburn.

It’s understood Ms McDonald and Card were living together in Grovedale.

They were both popular faces at GMHBA Stadium, with Card the current president of the Geelong Past Players group.

Mandy McDonald was a loved mother-of-two.

He made his debut against Essendon at Kardinia Park and would go on to win the Carji Greeves Medal, handed to Geelong’s best and fairest, at the end of the 1983 season.

“Geelong Football Club mourns the passing of Mandy, partner of past player Ray Card,” a Geelong Cats spokesperson said.

“The club extends its deepest sympathies to Mandy’s children, Ray, extended families and friends.”

Card is also a revered figure in country football circles in north east Victoria, having captain coached the Wangaratta Magpies in the strong Ovens and Murray Football League from 1988-1991.

His daughters went to school in Wangaratta before he relocated his family back to Geelong a decade later.

Ray Card in action for the Cats at Kardinia Park.

“It’s a tragic situation, it really is,” one former country football associate said.

“It’s shocked a lot of people in Wang.

“There are no winners.”

Ms McDonald died at the scene of the crash near Lara about 11.20pm on November 16.

It’s believed the pair were travelling in a Ford Ranger when it collided with a BMW in which a 23-year-old Lara man and a 19-year-old Lovely Banks woman were travelling.

Card has been bailed to appear in a Geelong court on Tuesday.

He has been contacted for comment.

[e-mail]

Originally published as Ex-Geelong Cat Ray Card charged over crash that killed partner Mandy McDonald