Rob Symmington

From the past:

"Goldstein had a nasal problem, anyone who farted, he would stick his head out the window and close it...."

2004

Born in Marrickville in ‘47, raised in Wahroonga, where I went to Waitara

Primary, which was just a handy walk around the corner. Like many of you, I went to the old Hornsby Tech, before Asquith was complete, an interesting place that was. I remember Goldstein had a nasal problem, anyone who farted, he would stick his head out the window and close it.

I can’t place your beloved Miss Spring - I don’t think my hormones kicked in till after she was gone. I do remember playing havoc on a Mith Smith - I think she was a librarian.

On leaving ABHS - I applied for work at 5 accountancy practices, and also Commonwealth Bank, as Ken Davis will remember. Like a fool I joined the witch bank. In 1969 I met my future wife Daphne Whatson, who was working with me at the Wahroonga branch. She was an ex-Asquith Girls High girl. We married in 1970 - We had 3 children: Andrew in 1970, Penny in 1972, Lee in 1974.

After twelve years in the bank, in various postings on the north shore and central coast, I saw the light, and moved to Mission Beach N. Qld, where I started a supermarket. The area was only just developing then, so had no opposition for 40 kms. Also supplied food etc., for Dunk Island and Bedarra Island. Took on volunteering roles in Coast Guard, and became a keen game fisherman, helping to organise the inaugural bill fin classic. During the time at Mission, My marriage ended.

Subsequently I sold out and moved back to Sydney, where I worked with American Express as financial controller of their card division. However, having gone from Barrier reef to 23 floors up in Martin Place, the shock became evident, and in 1980 opted for another seachange and lifestyle change, and moved to Forster. This is where I took up my old passion of music, and have been teaching in a private capacity ever since. I learnt piano from the age of 5, doing all the grades, then pipe organ academy.

Dave Hensher may recall the band we had for a few years, after we left school. It lived up to it’s name ‘Kaos’. It must have been Sydney’s first heavy metal rock band, as we practiced in the Asquith scout hall, and often heard the sound of clashing metal on the tin roof, from neighbours throwing rocks to quieten us. That just made us play louder. During the last 25 years, I have had a piano bar for 5 years, a Jazz band “Generation Gap’ for 15 years. Have played with the Aztecs, John Paul Young, and Galapagos Duck, and supported many other bands including Richard Marx, the Beatnix etc.

Also taught adult education on musicology. Some of my students have gone into careers in music. One was in lead roll in phantom, another was lead in Miss Saigon in London. Others are touring the country with Wendy Matthews and the like. Was for a time music director of Rotary district 965.

1989 was a big change for me. Met my wife Regina, a local Forster girl. She straightened me out, or tried to. She has 2 children, Micheal and Samantha. We married in 1994. Since then we have taken on the role of grandparents to 8 grandchildren and one on the way.

My interests include sailing (have a yacht sitting out the back), golf and off-roading with Boothy.

Sibling info: Andrew is married - lives at Bateau Bay, and owns the Surf Shop at Erina, and has 2 children and one on the way. Penny is married to a financier and lives at Curl Curl, and has her own hair salon in Harbord. Lee lives in Nambucca and has 3 children. Micheal has a trucking business with his father and managers a motel in Taree, and has 2 children Sam, has one child and lives in Forster. Regina works in retail shoes and lingerie. A specialist in boots, bottoms and boobs.