Aussie Rob

With sadness we have tragically lost a mate this week. Rob will be missed in Mui-Wo by so many people. He was a familiar figure around the island, of course most of the time with QQ, cycling around , taking his early morning swim, or having a few drinks at any one of the many watering holes. Rob would never fail to stop and have a few words as he cycled around, asking about your plans, your weekend, sharing a story , or his latest plans. Rob loved Lantau, and was never that happy travelling over to the big smoke, preferring to do as much work as he could from the peaceful tranquillity of Mui-Wo. Rob had a big heart, which he showed through his patience when listening to the myriad problems of others, and he also opened his home to those in need, when nobody else would dream of doing so. His attempts to help one particular 'stray' was medal worthy.

Everyone who knew Rob knew that his closest friend and constant companion was QQ, I have never known a dog that was loved to such a high degree. We would wind him up that he loved that dog 'too much', but it was water off a ducks back. Rob would just smile and carry on as ever. To see Rob give QQ a wash was to see the embodiment of 'one man and his dog'.

Rob was an honest man willing to share life's ups and downs, and through his experience he was able to give advice to people trying to find their way in this sometimes difficult city. Rob was an intelligent, educated, man who was able to discuss anything from economics, politics, history, and being an Aussie- sport. I was often corrected by his thorough knowledge of football. A recent heated debate over a few beers centred around the complexities of the football transfer market and the comparison with Aussie rules, I had to bow to Rob's use of facts, rather than my own guesswork. Those are the conversations that make a good night, good.
Although we knew about Rob's life here in Hong Kong, we didn't really know much about his family in Oz, and we can only imagine the pain they feel at such a loss at this time, especially for his mother. Rob was taken too early, and that is a huge tragedy. The only consolation we can give them is that we share their pain and we will continue to think of him and who he was, and how he affected us all during the now too short time that we knew him. RIP and God Bless Rob.