Rob was a real gentleman, a great bloke and a good mate.

Most members would’ve met Rob, at the Air Pistol Range, and together with Paul Stuart and Rob Napthali, were known as the “Three Musketeers’ … renoun for their smooth, safe and efficient running of Range … it was a real case of …

“All for one and one for all”

Dave Miller was kind enough to volunteer to prepare something about Rob for the Club , and considered it an honour to do so.

I first met Rob when I joined the Club in 1992, shortly after he joined, the Club ‘lost’ its shooting range at HMAS Nirimba, and he was a key figure in assisting the Club in its migration to the Shooting Academy at Auburn.

In 2001 the Club undertook some significant renovations to its Air Pistol Range located under the Castle Hill Bowling Club. Once again Rob ‘stepped up to the plate’ providing time and resources to make the range into something more than a ‘basement with targets’.

In 2004, the Club ‘also’ lost that Air Pistol Range, and the following year some members commenced work on the Air Pistol Range at the Castle Hill Showgrounds.

Once again Rob was at the forefront of the many working bees organised to turn a small dilapidated building into the Clubhouse that we still enjoy today.

This was when Rob also developed a significant ‘emotional attachment’ to the Air Pistol Range and the Air Pistol shooters.

During his time with the Club Rob served as a Range Officer and Training Officer guiding many new members through their pistol shooting ‘initiation’.

In 1999 Rob took on the role of Vice Captain, and a permanent fixture on the Club Committee ever since.

It was on the Committee where I discovered that Rob was the ultimate pragmatist, who came with the occasional ‘lack of filter’. Rob always focused on solutions rather than problems, and if you had a ‘dumb’ idea, never fear Rob was happy to let you know.

His input was always invaluable to the committee, and the Club, and he was certainly one of the ‘key players’ who kept us all heading in the right direction, particularly through the many ‘troubled waters’.

In 2015, his outstanding service to the Club was recognised by him being bestowed life membership.

Over the years, Rob, together with Paul Stuart and Rob Napthali, became known as the “three musketeers’ for their smooth, safe and efficient running of the Air Pistol Range.

They actually formed the ‘backbone’ of the Club, it never mattered what ‘angst’ the live fire ranges were experiencing, there was the Air Pistol Range performing as serenely as a duck floating across a lake.

As a result of which, the three Musketeers were recognised and awarded, the RSL’s volunteer award.

I have tried to keep this from a Club perspective, but Rob was also a great bloke and a good mate, also being a regular visitor to our farm in Central NSW. Feel free to grab me, or Paul Stuart, next time you see us and we will be happy to share a few ‘war stories’ (some of which may be better not committed to print).

He will be sadly missed by the Club and his many friends.

Dave Miller