Robert Symington 2025

I believe Robert (Symo) had been suffering with oesophageal cancer and he lost his battle on Wednesday, 21st May.

Stig Falster 27 May 2025

From Stig Falster 3 June 2025

I have been advised that Robert's funeral will be held on Friday, 6th June at 10:30.  The venue is The Green Cathedral , opposite Pacific Palms via Forster.

Further to my earlier email, there is a further suggestion that he had liver cancer that spread to his lungs.  Irrespective, not a good way to go!

I have had a lot of responses from fellow students and include some of them here.  This is notwithstanding that the consensus was clear - he was a great bloke, taken too soon!

From one of our teachers - Ray Kench.

Hi Stig,
Very Sad indeed!
I had kept in touch with Robert in earlier years.
His mother ran the canteen.
He played a practical Joke on me at Jenolan Caves House.
His mother made me a bright pair of pyjamas. Somehow he lured me out of the room wearing them and went back and locked my door.
I had to go down to the front desk wearing these brightly coloured PJ’s. We laughed about it often!
RIP Robert!
Regards, Ray Kench

From Andrew Craig

Thank you very much for your email about Robert.  I am saddened and quite upset that such a nice fellow had to go so early and in this way.

As far as I remember, Robert was in my cohort at Waitara Public School all the way from kindergarten through to year 6 (?) primary school and then on to Asquith.  We often walked home together and his thoughtful mum would produce afternoon tea (a snack) for us. She was a quiet, unassuming woman who seemed to understand what boys wanted.

I remember Robert as also being quiet and unassuming.  He was a good mate who liked to kick a football.  We have lost a fellow I remember as a true boy gentleman.

Thank you again.

From Roy Broadhurst:

So sorry to hear of Robert's passing.  It was Robert who got me to join the old boys group about 20 years ago.  He would drop in on us every couple of years on his trips to North Qld.