George Stewart (Robbie) Robinson (1914- 2013)

 

The death occurred recently of G.S.Robinson(Robbie) he was in his 99th year. He had a long association with Massey starting  in 1933 when the place was Massey Agricultural College. His secondary education was at Auckland Grammar School, followed by the intermediate subjects at Auckland University required to progress to the Bachelor of Agriculture degree at Massey.

 

In 1933 he was elected Treasurer on the Student’s Association Committee. He devoted a lot of spare time from studies organising the funds & the students in building the new swimming pool under the supervision of the Massey Engineering Department. He remained on the committee until his election as President in 1936.

 

His talent as an athlete was recognised by the award of a Massey Athletics Blue in 1935, one of only two such awards in that year ,and one of only four awarded for athletics at Massey  up to the start of World War two. He was hard to beat over the old 440 yards sprint.

 

He had a life-long association with the N.Z Grasslands Association ( NZGA) starting with the Conference in 1936, then serving on the committee in the 1950’s and being elected President for 1967-68.

 

Following the untimely death of Dr.Peter Sears he, together with Hazel Foster, Prof Tom. W. Walker and other executive members set up The N.Z.Grassland Trust in 1964, to commemorate prominent grasslanders.

 

After graduation from Massey in 1937, he joined the Department of Agriculture in Palmerston North as an Advisor and later in Levin where he & Chris started their family. On the outbreak of war he wished to serve in the Navy but instead, was drafted out and sent to Britain  with 5 other agricultural specialists to assist with food production. They had a scary boat trip  via the Pacific ocean, Panama canal and Atlantic ocean without escort. At that time Britain was growing 1/3rd of her food, but by the end of his stint this had risen to 2/3rds. He didn’t claim all the credit but his regular Friday night sessions on the B.B.C. talking to farmers and food producers, would have helped. After the war he had a brief spell with the Department in Masterton, before being appointed to the Field Husbandry Department, at Massey in 1947,where he worked with Ron Schwass and Bill Jacques. This  department merged with  Soils to form the department of Soils and Field Husbandry headed by Prof. ‘Abe’ Hudson, another NZGA enthusiast.

 

In the early 1950’s these people worked hard with D.S.I.R. Grasslands Division to organise the prestigious1956 International Grassland Congress in Palmerston North.             

   

He continued his studies, qualifying for an M.Agr.Sc  and gained promotion to Reader in Agronomy until he retired from Massey in 1972----a relationship lasting 50 years. He then moved over the road to Grasslands to develop the turf research unit until he retired a second time in 1976. He had been a member of The Turf Research Institute since the 1950’s, serving as President for 8 years. In retirement he continued in his spare time  to develop the Institute, persuading retiring M.A.F. personnel to help the sole, employed Turf Advisor, as auxiliary turf advisors. At this time, he persuaded Lawn Bowls Clubs throughout N.Z to levy a small addition to the annual subscription of players, to fund further research and development. His love of sport ensured his involvement with golf, where at Hokowhitu he was Chairman of the Greens Committee and Club Captain in 1963.

 

He was a Life Member of the Manawatu Bowling Club featuring on the Honour’s Board 16 times, as well as taking Honours at the bowling club in Hervey Bay, Queensland, for many years in his retirement.

 

He devoted his long life to family, education, sport and service to others.

 

He leaves his wife, Chris aged 97 years, two sons ,David in Melbourne and Stewart in Hawera and an extended family, spread throughout the world.

 

Image: George Stewart (Robbie) Robinson (B.Agr.Sc in 1937 and M.Agr.Sc. in 1956) (winning the race) on the right in this photo