In his first marriage, to Thelma Gwenneth Oberin, a descendant of immigrants from Germany, Scotland, Ireland, and England, he had two children, Sue and Richard.

Trayling joined the St. Kilda West Branch of the Labor Party in 1964 and campaigned for the need for a library, a child minding centre, as well as a range of other issues.

Trayling headed up a Library Sub-Committee as Chairman in 1969, with the Foundation stone being laid by him in 1972 in his then capacity as Mayor of the City of St Kilda.

[5] Although the creation of St Kilda Library is considered his biggest achievement in local government, he also delivered on his other promise of setting up a child minding centre.

In 1972 Trayling became the Australian Labor Party member for the Legislative Council seat of Melbourne Province, which he held until 1982.

[7] In his inaugural speech to Parliament he highlighted three main points: his concern with the growing differing laws and regulations amongst states such as with roads, censorship, health and workers compensation; certain competition between states were hurting the national interest; and revision of the structure of local government, which he believed had become over-governed and needed downsizing.

In January 1972, Trayling met with Sweden's Prime Minister Olof Palme in Stockholm to discuss their mutual interest and support of the anti-Vietnam movement and the socialist policies of the day.