Robert Taylor, an Emerald stalwart and community man, has passed away.
Rob regularly walked around the village from Ferres Road, often with two dogs, a pug named Max and a golden retriever, Angus.
When the dogs passed on, Rob kept up his walking tradition- always with a smile and people were cheered by his interest in them and his friendly greeting to everyone he met.
In 1972, Rob had bought a 5-acre block of land in Ferres Road, built a house on it and with his first wife, Mary and raised three children, all of whom subsequently became involved with Little Athletics, football and netball clubs.
Later in 1992, as a single parent Rob met Anne Brown at an Emerald Spring Flower Show held in the old Emerald Hall, and finding they had a lot in common, they teamed up to marry in 1996.
When Anne sold her house in Woodlands Avenue Emerald, they extended Rob’s house to better accommodate his three children, their friends and themselves.
Rob was a brilliant researcher at CSIRO in the pyrotechnical metallurgy department and retired from this career after 41 and a half years.
He was extremely clever with his hands and could mend or make anything – even creating tools using his metal lathe for any unusual problem.
He was always the “go-to” man for people in trouble and was often rescuing people or clearing a road of fallen trees.
One day a police car backed into a drain at the end of their road and the occupants had to sheepishly ask for help.
Rob came to the rescue with his trusty old Ferguson tractor to pull them out.
He was the secretary of the Men’s Probus Club of Emerald for many years, until it had to fold due to dwindling numbers.
He later joined the Olinda Probus Club.
Rob was the communication organiser of lunches for CSIRO colleagues and the men’s Probus Club even after they had been wound up.
He was always the keypin to maintaining friendships.
Rob passed away on 15 January at Salisbury House in Upper Beaconsfield.
A large funeral was held at the Springvale Crematorium on 25 January, when many people said farewell to the popular Emerald identity.
He leaves his wife Anne, his three children – Elissa, Craig and Brett and their families and two stepsons- Roger and his family and Philip who is in full-time care.
Rob and his smile will be missed by many.
