Sarina’s Robin Pitcher will be celebrated at moving service honouring his life

Loved ones of proud family man, dedicated community member and ‘the best pop’ Robin Pitcher have paid tribute to his incredible life.

Robin Pitcher died age 86 surrounded by his loved ones. His family will gather on Friday to celebrate his life. Picture: Supplied

Sarina’s Robin Pitcher had three passions in life: his family, his community and a good old chat.

The great, great-grandfather died on March 23 aged 86, surrounded by his loved ones and leaving a legacy deeply ingrained in the Mackay region town where he was born, bred and touched many lives.

To granddaughter Maria O’Neill he was “the best pop” and the family storyteller with an endless supply of dad jokes and a “loud jovial laugh”.

“He loved a chat. Anybody in Sarina that knows him would know … he was always up for a chat,” she said.

Robin John Sussens Pitcher was born on November 18, 1936, just three years before World War II broke out.

Robin Pitcher died age 86 surrounded by his loved ones. Picture: Supplied

He was the eldest son of 11 siblings, who were all raised on a dairy farm. His parents also bought a small cane farm.He went to Sarina State School but he had to miss the first year as children under Year 5 were not allowed to attend due to the war. Robin’s secondary education was through All Souls College in Charters Towers.

Maria said her grandfather loved to exaggerate stories of his childhood on the farm, entertaining all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren with tales of milking the cows before walking to school.

He stayed on the family farm until age 22 when he left to work as a drover at Nebo, a ringer at cattle stations, and then a plant operator building dams, earth water tank and boring wells.

In 1959 Robin, aged 24, met Farleigh’s Janice Watt – one of only six girls who attended a dance – and instantly fell in love.

Robin and Jan Pticher (nee Watt) were married at St Luke’s Church, Sarina on April 23, 1960. They celebrated their golden anniversary with a renewal of vows at the same church and a family dinner at the Hideaway Restaurant.

“Grandma told me that Pop looked at her and knew she was the one,” Maria said.

They were engaged on Christmas Eve that year and married on April 23, 1960. This year would have been their 63rd anniversary.

It was not long before they had their three children: Judy, Danny and Margaret.

In 1962 Robin joined the Main Roads Department as a plant operator, which took him away from his family.

He wanted to be home more and to help with the children, especially once they were all in school, so in 1969 he took on a job as a grader operator with then Sarina Shire Council.

Robin Pitcher (left) with his daughter Margaret, wife Jan, son Danny and other daughter Judy. Picture: Supplied

An ambitious Robin achieved his goal of being a road foreman three years later, before being offered an opportunity to be an overseer.

In 1976 he sat and passed his exams as an overseer with the Local Government Engineers and Overseers Board of Examiners, and took up the position in 1987.

He loved his time with the council where he worked hard and rose through the ranks, becoming a member of the Institute of Municipal Engineers Association in 1992, and two years later works manager for the shire.

His family will gather on Friday to celebrate his life. Picture: Supplied

Robin considered this a real feather in his cap and it was a job he held until retiring in 1997 at age 60 with a new car, new house, a nice little nest egg. He also had a hobby farm where he grew mangoes and citrus fruits.

In retirement he and Jan were able to do some travel around Australia including going to a Melbourne Cup Race Day, which as a horse lover was a highlight.

He was a grandfather to 15, great-grandfather to 25 and even a great, great-grandfather to one.

Robin Pitcher with his wife Jan, who he met and instantly fell in love with at a dance in 1959. Picture: Supplied

Outside of work and family, Robin was heavily involved in Sarina’s Bendigo Bank coming into existence and was a steering committee member when the bank was little more than an idea.

He said he was initially chastised because he did not know anything about banks, quickly retorting, “I know how to spend money”.

He was a board director for five years, a role he took on with gusto in every aspect, including attending training sessions, holding information stalls, attracting and verifying shareholders, selecting staff and sourcing customers.

Robin Pitcher (right) was heavily involved in getting Sarina's Bendigo Bank up and running. Picture: Supplied

Maria said her pop was incredibly proud to be involved.

Robin was also dedicated to the Sarina Museum and would often write articles about the town’s history and its people.

“He loved to tell stories, he even wrote his own eulogy sharing his own story,” she said.

And from 2007 he gave tours at the Sarina Sugar Shed, sharing his knowledge about the sugar industry for just over a decade.

Robin Pitcher crushes the cane to make rum at the Sarina Sugar Shed in 2013. Photo Peter Holt / Daily Mercury

Maria recalled how much he loved speaking to people and using the phrase “jolly good”.

“He would always stop in the street and chat with anybody who would have a chat with him,” she said.

“He would (always) say, everybody wants to say hello to you Maria, they’re just too afraid say it first.”

Robin would often got to IGA and sit with older members of the community who might not have friends and family to chat with and keep them company over a coffee.

“That was so important to him,” she said.

Robin’s family and friends will gather Friday to celebrate his life and remember a man who gave so much to his community.

Originally published as Sarina’s Robin Pitcher will be celebrated at moving service honouring his life