Raymond Campbell Miller first came to public notice in 1942, when his wife Alice applied for a divorce on the grounds of his adultery. The case was aired in all its sordid detail, particularly by Truth newspaper. Miller denied being intimate with the young nurse he was living with. Despite Alice and a private detective finding her in his bed at 3.00am, he claimed he always slept on the floor. The judge was quoted as saying that Miller was all humbug, and could not be believed ….unless he was incapable of ‘performing’. When his wife testified that their marital relations had been perfectly normal the divorce was granted.
Cambell’s academic background is veiled in mystery. His childhood was traumatic, which may help explain why he acted as he did. Here is the background, and the story of his mother.
He variously claimed to be a minister of religion a Dr. of Philosophy, and a Dr. of Divinity, although there is no evidence of such qualifications. Whatever the case, he was well educated and articulate. At the time of the divorce he was a tutor, and it was in this capacity that met a brilliant young woman, Nagarie Payne.
Born Ngaire Pamela Munro in Otago, New Zealand, Ngaire had been educated at the Dunedin Training College for teachers before her family moved to Sydney.
As a young woman she suffered dreadfully from rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors were unable to help and as a last resort she went to see Monsieur Francois Ray, at his Vaccine Institiute in Randwick. Ray had studied in Paris under the great Louis Pasteur. The inoculations he gave Ngaire worked wonders. She was so inspired by her recovery that she trained to become a bacteriologist, and joined the laboratory.
By 1942, and now married, Ngaire Payne found herself in a professional dilemma. She had become the trusted assistant of an aging Francois Ray and was invaluable to him in his research for new vaccines. A degree was not required for a bacteriologist, but the young woman knew that if she were to continue working after her mentor’s retirement she would need a university qualification. With this in mind she decided to study medicine part-time at Sydney University. Forty year old Raymond Miller became her private tutor. He was employed at an obscure college based in Daking House near Central Station. It seems Miss Payne met him while he was a patient at the Vaccine Institue. He suffered from hemiplegia and had a severe limp. One arm was completely paralysed.
Daking House, Sydney
The situation for Ngaire became more pressing when Francois Ray fell ill the following year. She had to work longer hours and take on more responsibility. She was unable to keep up with her studies and the dream of a medical degree seemed out of reach.
It was at this point that Raymond Miller came up with a plan she would later describe as ‘absolutely ridiculous.‘
The New England University College had recently been established in Armidale as an extension of Sydney University. Miller suggested that if Ngaire registered there, where nobody knew her, he could dress as a woman and sit the exams in her place. Why on earth she agreed to such a nonsensical scheme who knows, although under extreme stress people can act completely out of character.
Registration papers were filled in and posted, a suitable disguise was assembled (wig, hat, veil, coat and skirt) and the pair travelled to Armidale, booking into Tattersalls Hotel.
After an anxious night, Raymond dressed in his disguise and the ‘friends’ set off for the university.
For the second chapter in this story, CLICK HERE.
