Births, engagements, marriages and vale notices
VALE: Robin Caroline Hodges (Bunyan, 1949)
Robin Caroline Hodges was the youngest child of John Gordon, and Mabel Agnes Bunyan of Woodlands, Holbrook, born on the 8th July 1931 at the old Holbrook Hospital. Growing up on the family farm with siblings John, Bub and Betty, Robin went away to school at an early age, firstly to Woodstock and then the Presbyterian Ladies College (PLC) Sydney.
A family story goes that at the age of 15, Robin convinced her father she was needed during shearing and after 12 months away, never returned to complete her schooling. Nevertheless, she made lifelong friends at boarding school, her nickname was Bunny, and she loved the reunions.
Robin worked on the family farm, loved her animals especially her horses and relished contact with community through the Presbyterian/United Church, the Agricultural Shows, playing polocrosse, establishing Pony Club, taking part in local concerts, attending community balls, square dancing and fund raising for the establishment of the local swimming pool.
Robin met her future husband Gresham at a welcome-to- the- district party held at his parent’s – Caleb and Grace’s property, Upper Wantagong. Gresham and Robin were married in 1957 and in the early years of their marriage lived and farmed at Upper Wantagong. Caleb ran a stud of Blairgowrie Galloways and Gresham, Argyle Herefords.
During this time, Marylou was born in 1958, Duncan in 1959 and Rachel, 1963. The young family moved from Upper Wantagong to Binginwarri when Robin inherited land from her Uncle William Bunyan. Here they operated a mixed farming enterprise of cattle, sheep, and cropping.
Robin is described by her daughters Marylou and Rachel and son Duncan as “our rock”. Gresham died from melanoma in January 1974 when the children were in their early teens; Rachel only 11, Duncan 14 and Marylou 15.
As a sole parent, Robin continued the farm for another eight years to avoid uprooting the children, and waited until Rachel finished school. She provided a steady ship during their adolescent years including Pony Club for the girls on Saturday and the Motorcycle Club for Duncan on Sundays.
“We were a close family and built up a strong sense of trust,” they said.
Robin took on many administrative roles with Pony Club as well as the Tumbarumba Camp and was bestowed with life membership of both Holbrook and the Zone Pony Club.
Robin encouraged Marylou, Duncan, and Rachel to take advantage of opportunities that came their way – to be independent, think outside the box, and make the most of life in a positive way. She followed this advice, and travelled overseas to the UK, the USA, Canada, and New Zealand. Robin enjoyed company, she was warm and genuine in her interest and always up for a chat. She had the uncanny knack of striking up conversations with strangers and being informed of all sorts of random information.
Her family believe Robin was a woman of tremendous strength and faith, non-judgmental, welcoming and had a way of building trust. She had a special interest in helping young families with baby sitting and her focus and interest was about young people. She assisted with the Show Society’s Miss Showgirl Competition and took on the role of Peter Rabbit at the Early Childhood Centre as well as helping at the Holbrook Public School.
Her community work and interests included Crafty Hands and Meals on Wheels. She loved chocolate, meringues, porridge with cream and brown sugar, whiskey, bubbles, the smell of cut grass, haymaking, baby animals, dogs, cats, and her horses Nelly, Jerry, Chinook, and Fury. She wore bright colours – purple, red, pink, and green, she had a favourite purple hat, and her favourite outing was meeting with friends.
Robin had a quirky sense of humour; loved musicals and knew all the words to songs in Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Mama Mia, and White Christmas; she enjoyed happy shows – Paddington Bear, Ice Age and Madagascar. No violence!
She had a great love and pride in her family – Marylou, Rachel, Duncan and his wife Joanne, their children Gresham and Caleb and great grandchild Zac.
A memorial for Robin Caroline Hodges was held at the Knox Church, Holbrook, at 11am on Friday 12th August with refreshments at the RSL CLUB.
Robin passed away on 9th July 2022 at the age of 91 years and 1 day.
