Robert Hobson

My first recollection of meeting Hobbo was in 1964 when we were both members of the NSW Under 18 Basketball Team. We won the Australian Championships and I recall Hobbo being not too well on the flight home after we had celebrated well. I discovered in 1966 that Annette and Hobbo had attended The Canberra High School, together during the early 60's. In 1969 I joined the Bouncers Basketball Team. Hobbo and I played many games together in the late 60's early 70's and he was always a non-selfish, committed and skilful team mate. Our last game together was at the 1997 Masters Games following which we were both the worse for wear. A very fond memory for us was the couple of days we spent together with Hobbo and Beth at Mission Beach in 2004 while we were both caravanning. Hobbo was a great friend who was sincere and generous and always interested in what we were doing. Hobbo we will miss yo

Robert - such a huge heart for everyone, so generous with your words & always had a smile for everyone..taken way too soon!!! So happy however, that you chose it on your terms, such an enduring strength to stay positive throughout the cards dealt to you!
On many occasions as I was growing up with Nanna Vonnie & we met up at celebrations or even when you visited our family when we had our first son Jarred, you always offered me encouragement in my life, telling me I could get through any challenges to come and how proud you were of who I had become …
Wow I felt a little special back then & blessed that you cared so much ! Loved your sense of humour too just like your Dad who always had a story to tell which made people laugh!!!
Loved catching up when I was up north, eating Crepes at Flos & just recently seeing how much you loved Bella and of course Beth - wish I had of got a photo

Hobbo was a NSW teammate and friend of mine way back in 1963 and 1965. Those were the days when ACT was part of NSW basketball. We were all young but not so young that I didn’t recognise even then his warmth, hospitality, humour and integrity. For many years after that we lost contact, other than through my brother Paul with whom he worked at the AIS in Canberra. We were overjoyed to renew our friendship via the Canberra ‘mafia’ some years ago and the overarching reflections (warmth, hospitality, humour and integrity) remained intact. What a joy to then care for he and Beth’s home (and gorgeous puppy Bella) at Noosa Springs while they holidayed in various resorts in Nth Q. We, sadly so, solidified our friendship through our common cancer conditions. Despite his own battles, he was hugely mindful of my travails. His decency, respect and care came to the fore. We loved this bloke, also Be

I was at the AIS as a medical officer (sports medicine practitioner) when Bob arrived at the Australian Sports Commission. We hit it off immediately. Hobbo, as he was always known, was the most engaging, sincere and supportive colleague you could wish for. He was always calm and measured, and I still recall his “thinking” expression before he offered an opinion…which was always helpful.
He was a mentor to me in my early days in administration, which was taking me out of pure clinical practice, and I still remember his observations on politics, governance, and particularly dealing with Ministers!
My wife, Robyn, and I caught up with Bob and Beth a few times after their move to the Sunshine Coast and we managed to play some golf together, dine at the local Thai restaurant and reminisce.
Bob was a true friend, a gentleman and an enormous contributor to sport and the community. We will mi

21 October 1947 was the day the world changed — the day Robert Hobson was born.

Anyone who knew you would agree that you made life brighter for everyone around you. You had a remarkable way of turning even the most chaotic moments into memories we treasure, from rescuing mischievous kids who fell into fountains, to laughing off milkshake disasters, to letting us pile on top of you every Christmas morning.

What always stood out was how you approached everything with calm, kindness, and that signature little eye roll before saying, “Alright, what do we need to do to fix it?” Those words, and the love behind them, will stay with me forever.

Your positivity, patience, and gentle strength are qualities I will always admire and try to carry with me. I will forever remember the impact you’ve had on my life, and I will keep striving to live in a way that reflects the love, humour, and g

“I am greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Bob Hobson. Bob made an enormous contribution to the Australian Sports Commission and to Australian sport. He was a rock within the organisation, always sensible, reliable and considerate. I depended greatly on his good sense and support. Bob was a manager with imagination, always looking for new and better ways to do things. He knew his way around the public service and government processes to great advantage to the Commission. Modest in his personal dealings, a lot of his wok would not have been obvious to many of the individuals in the sports sector, but his good sense and sound management certainly improved their capacity for success. Australian sport was well served by his work, which contributed greatly to the success of our national system. He was well liked by all and will be sadly missed. But what a reputation to leave behind!
J

When Bob and I first met, I was thinking I must have met this guy before because we just clicked. We had a special bond (unspoken). I just knew he was special.
Establishing a contemporary regional sports precinct was our role. Bringing all parties to deliver an inclusive outcome for all was the challenge. Bob can look back and know that despite the political, bureaucratic and club territorial egos he was a principal driver of the “pushing the boundaries’ moments.
His knowledge, his background experience in high level sport both as a player and in national administration provided the backbone that was needed to push the process.
Bob was unbelievably great at articulating the argument on why we should do what we said we wanted to do. He was a critical thinker - his thinking was at another level on planning for the future of sport on the Sunshine Coast.
You have left a footprint in the

Dear Bobba
Since the day I was born, Bobba, you were there encouraging me to chase my dreams, no matter how wild they were. You always celebrated my achievements, no matter how small they were. You and Nanna have always been there. In my future I promise to always celebrate every minor achievement, because you always made them feel as if they were major.
A cup of tea will never be the same without you Bobba. I will never go to a coffee shop on a Saturday morning and feel the way I felt being there with you. Every time I hear a Beatles or Beach Boys song I will smile at the thought of your singing along. Up There Cazaly will never sound as good as it does in your voice. Italy will miss you so dearly.
I love you so much Bobba, more than you will ever know. We all do. We all adore you, and if any of us could be half the person you are, we will all be doing something right.
I love you

Bobba,
My grandfather was the most wonderful, compassionate, funny (and irritating) man I could ever ask for as a Grandfather.
Thank you for all the coffees, thank you for all the stories, thank you for all the time we got to spend together.
I’m gonna miss the hard jabs in my arm and the weekly Saturday coffees. I’m gonna miss being force fed bickies till im about to burst. But most of all i’m going to miss you.
Over 171,000 words in the English language, but not a single one can express the gratitude, respect and love I have for you.
You only get one Robert Hobson in your life, and getting to know you for 16 fun, meaningful long years means the world to me.
Grief is not sadness, it’s the celebration of how incredible of a father, grandfather, husband and human being Bobba was. I saw someone say grief is like glitter. It sticks everywhere and is impossible to clean. It never real