Robert Neil Kidd

21.05.1940 – 03.08.2002

The saddest news came in 2002, with the passing of our Club stalwart, Robert Kidd.What a fine man he was.  Sincere and generous with his time and his smile.  He fought a courageous and painful battle with dignity.For his coaching and playing exploits (700 plus games) and his love of people and this South Burnie Hockey Club, we are very thankful to have had him spend some time in our lives.  His funeral service, our Club guard of honour and the wake, demonstrated the respect that so many people had for “Mr Kiddy”.

In December 2002, “Kiddy” bequeathed a sum of money to his beloved club as well as to the McKenna Park Hockey Complex. 

“OUR DEAR FRIEND, MATE & BUDDY – ROB KIDD”

Written by Murray Reeve:

 I feel very honoured to be given the opportunity to express some of my thoughts & those of others of our good mate Rob.
I could write a book on him, but will keep it as condensed as practical.

I just can’t come to grips with the fact that Rob is not going to be around physically anymore, although pleasant memories of him will always be there.  I suppose we take it for granted that our best mates will be there forever, then when something like this happens to a close friend, it brings us back to earth & makes us realize what life is all about.

Rob was born 21^st May 1940 much to the delight of his mother, father & older brother Pete.  He spent most of his life at the family home in Edward St, South Burnie & early in life became part of the South Burnie “Gang”.  Many of the members in this gang later in life became prominent sportsmen in their various fields, maybe because of the active leisure times spent on the South Burnie recreation ground.  Some of these who come to mind:  Kelvin “Grunta”  Jones – football, cricket & boat rowing, Leon “Carrie” Clark – football & cricket, Ray “choc” Robinson – football & cricket, Ian “Sam” Batt – running, football & cricket and Rob “Bubba” Kidd  who excelled in hockey, cricket,  had a term at football, Lawn Bowls also a crack at basketball & squash.  Rod “Addo” Addison – hockey.  Dale Wilbur Smith – Hockey.

I was fortunate to meet up with Rob way back in the late 1940’s when our parents decided that we both might have had a future in learning the piano.  Our dear elderly teacher was Mrs Lee the ex Methodist Church organist & music teacher.  Poor Mrs Lee, my lesson was from 7.15am – 7.45am & Rob followed on from 7.45am to 8.15am before school.  I think Mrs Lee dreaded those mornings.  She would be in the kitchen getting her breakfast or hanging clothes on the line & we were out in her lounge room, far enough away to switch our fingering around to cheat a bit.  I can still hear Mrs Lee yelling from afar “Wrong finger, start again”  Unfortunately, for Mrs Lee she had a nervous breakdown a couple of years later so Rob & I were forced to resign.  Maybe we were the reason for her breakdown, maybe not.

In 1952 I ended up at the South Burnie Rec where Arch Hardy was hiring hockey sticks for 3 pence a morning & ended up playing along side Rob in schoolboys hockey.  We commenced senior hockey at 13 years of age, Rob with ODA & I with APPM & later with Cooee.  When Cooee & ODA joined forces we were again side by side & became very good friends from then on.

We went through most of our High School time in the same grade much to the joy of most of our teachers.  I can still see Rob sitting up the front in B Class (4^th year) next to another “brilliant” student, Ian Ritchie. Many a good story could be told about some extra activities which took place in that class.  I’m sure David Bissett’s wife Val could vouch for that as she was fortunate enough to sit in front with myself & Lance Greenhill.

Rob’s first taste of interstate hockey came in 1955 in the Tassie schoolboys side along with 6 other Burnieites, travelling to Sydney for the interstate championships, followed by colts selection in 1959, then numerous selections in senior state teams over the next 10 years & later several times in state veterans hockey.

On record Rob has played over 725 games of hockey but early schoolboys & high school rep teams etc would amount to quite a few more.

Rob’s player profile is full of colour with numerous best & fairest awards, Div 1 or A grade captain & coach many times, many club committee & association committee positions & in the year 2000 Rob was named “Club Person of the Year”.  Rob was always a willing umpire when needed and only yesterday, Dianne Jago was singing his praises of his willingness to umpire women’s & men’s games at short notice.  He umpired last years A Grade grand final (association & state).

After attend the Australian championships in Perth WA in 1964, Rob & myself decided to stay on & settle for the rest of the year & we both played hockey with CBC club alongside 3 of the Pearce brothers & Kevin Carton the then Australian Captain.  What a great experience that was.

We had a flat in an old house in Nedlands, owned by an 80 year old Scottish women.  Mrs Clarke who had the adjoining flat across the hallway.  She didn’t complain about us too many times.  I came home earlier than Rob to play in the finals in Burnie & Rob drove across the Nullarbor on his own when the road was rough track and full of potholes. We formed forces with 3 WA hockey players Ross Edwards, John Goldie & Bob Wilkinson a singing group, Rob had quite a good tenor voice.  We performed at a PFA concert in front of about 400 people & brought the house down with a couple of our comedy numbers.  Rob & I had to do 2 duets. Imagine that.

In the early years Rob & I both had morning paper rounds, mine was round West Burnie & up the hills, Robs was more around South Burnie.  Along with 5 or 6 others, we would arrive at “The Advocate” about 5.30am, fold our 150 or so papers then terrorise the neighbourhoods by seeing how hard we could hit front doors & windows, now & then there would be a tinkle of glass & the cost would come out of our pay if the owner complained.  One morning we borrowed the Reverend Wrights BSA Bantam from the Baptist Church from the front of the church manse while he slept & we did our paper rounds on it together, Rob was the unfortunate pillion passenger.  I think we laughed most of the way, we were lucky not to fall off with the heavy paper bags. We sneaked the motorbike on to the front veranda & off home.  Later Rob joined Tony O’Brian on his milk run.

When Rob left school he took on an apprenticeship as a hairdresser with the notorious Roly Gray.  He often entertained us with the goings on in Roly’s shop, how Roly not concentrating almost sliced a customers ear off with a cut throat & many others.  When Roly retired he worked with Peter Summers & later gave up fulltime hairdressing to deliver bread for Marsden’s bakery (later Collins).  He then joined Telecom in clerical work until his retirement.

Rob loved life, summertime at the beaches swimming & later surf ski riding.

In the mid 1950’s, Rob & some friends were swimming in the Emu River, Robert Nutting & David Stone were fishing from the train bridge, not thinking of trains when along came a train.  In the hurry to get off the line, Robert fell off the bridge & into the drink but couldn’t swim.  Rob pulled him out of the water but the story was kept a secret as they weren’t supposed to be swimming in the dangerous Emu River.

Rob was also in sea cadets in his school days, his love of the sea prompted the purchase of a shack at Rocky Cape some years later which became a hide-a-way for him.

Rob was a first grade cricketer for Burnie for many years being an impressive opening batsman & medium pace bowler along the way.

He also loved bushwalking, sightseeing & travelling, enjoying the natural things in life.  He appreciated things like the Don & Apt Railways, good movies, good food.  That reminds me, he despised my eating habits especially before hockey games.  My mother had the theory of playing on a full stomach to keep the energy up.  Rob would have breakfast then nothing till after hockey.  He was devastated when picking me up for hockey one day & mother served up a baked dinner followed by apple pie.  “Would you like some Rob”?” No Way he said.

Rob’s magnetic laugh & giggle, his terrific sense of humour, his ability to make light of a problem will always be remembered.

Staff & patients at the hospital will say without hesitation what a bright spot Rob was to other patients.  At his chemotherapy sessions other patients would love to be near him as he brightened up their day with his happy go lucky nature & positive thinking.

Many other stories will no doubt come out at the afternoon tea at McKenna Park later today.

I remember Rob as a true gentleman, I admired the way he handled difficult situations.  I enjoyed the many times teaming with Rob on the hockey field but most of all, I will  always value his unconditional friendship as will many others here today.

Condolences to Mrs Kidd, Peter, David, Anne, Jodie and families.

Spoken by Murray Reeve at “Kiddy’s” Funeral Service -  6^th August 2002