Rob left
the foggy shores of Cape Breton Island for RMC in the
fall of 1986 with the ultimate goal of becoming a
pilot. Academically he saw the light quickly, trading
in his calculator for a word processor and a degree in
History and Politics. Some of Rob’s fondest memories
of College life were wandering the halls until the wee
hours in search of a coffee and someone to
procrastinate with. He usually found his good mate
Don Ludlow. While Rob survived the academic and
military challenges of RMC, varsity hockey was his
passion. In his first year, Rob played on the “Rookie
Line”, with Gary McMullen and Mark Thietke. That year
he was fortunate not only to beat Army at West Point,
but also to play with some of the “legends” of RMC
hockey, notably the great Steve Molaski. The hockey
team went through some ups and downs during the next
three years, but there was never a time Rob did not
enjoy going to the rink…except the couple of occasions
when the team had to ride the “toilet less” green army
school bus all the way to Guelph.
Rob’s
dream of becoming a pilot ended after several hard
landings (often on the same approach) in the Musketeer
at Portage. Undaunted, he re-mustered to Air Traffic
Control and successfully completed his training after
graduation in 1990. Rob’s first and only posting was
to 15 Wing Moose Jaw, where he worked until 1996.
While at Moose Jaw, Rob forged a very successful
“second” career as a hockey referee. He worked his
way into the Western Hockey League and officiated in
games involving Team Canada Under 18 and the Canadian
Olympic Team. The last game he officiated in Canada
was the 1996 Royal Bank Cup Championship game (Junior
A).
The
harsh prairie winters finally took their toll on Rob.
In 1996, he accepted FRP and an offer of ATC
employment from the Royal Australian Air Force. His
first posting |
was to a
joint civil/military airport in Townsville,
Queensland. Figuring the only ice he would find in
the
tropics was in a drink, Rob flogged off all of his
hockey gear before leaving Moose Jaw. A decision he
would later regret. During his five years in
Townsville, Rob spent most of his spare time golfing,
diving and playing baseball. Rob was posted to the
RAAF’s primary fighter base at Newcastle New South
Wales in 2001.
Needless
to say, it did not take a Canadian long to find the
new Olympic-sized ice rink in Newcastle. Rob replaced
his hockey gear with the help of the good people at
visa and 13 years after playing his last competitive
game with RMC, he won a National Championship with the
Newcastle North Stars.
 The
lure of surfing in the morning and skating in the
afternoon led Rob to retire from air force life and
settle permanently in Newcastle in 2002. When not at
the beach or rink, Rob can be found at the racetrack.
He owns five thoroughbred racehorses. He has had some
success, with one of his horses winning ten races
including three in Brisbane. However, at this stage
Rob considers racing horses certainly more a “hobby”
than a business.
Rob
currently works in ATC System Development and Training
for the Australian Government and still resides in
Newcastle with his wife Karen and son Ethan. Having
made the pilgrimage from Sydney Nova Scotia to Sydney
Australia three times, Rob reckons the world is a
smaller place than most people believe. Although it
may seem like a bit of an effort, a trip to Australia
is well worth it. Rob would like to say a special
hello to his former Redmen teammates and friends from
the Class of 1990. If there are any world travelers
out there, a bed and a cold drink await. Rob can be
contacted on
robandkaren@bigpond.com.au.
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