Mon
Sep
19
2005

Robbo on Talking Heads

I’ve just spent a great time watching Talking Heads on ABC-TV. This weeks interview was with Clive Robertson (see transcript here).
I’ve been a great fan of Robbo since his days on ABC radio (2BL Breakfast show) in the 70’s. He has a very dry sense of humour and a totally deanpan delivery. I share his fascination with steam trains and recording equipment, but most importantly, I share his “first passion” – his relationship with God.
Robbo spoke plainly and clearly on national TV about his relationship with God through Jesus, and his appreciation of Peter and Philip Jensen’s teaching ministry. It was just wonderful to see such a simple and clear testimony on national television.

I thank God for Robbo, and his witness to the Lord Jesus.

Posted by Neil, 19 September 05
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Comment

  1. I have a few memories of Robbo.

    I used to serve him when I worked in Dick Smith (at Gore Hill) from 1979 to 1984. Robbo could be a bit of a pain—he would reset the counter on the turnstile (which counted store traffic) every time he came in. And he would seek me out. I only worked on Saturday mornings, and I was an electrical engineering student, so I actually know something about the products, and Clive knew that and used to come looking for me.

    Lately, I’ve seen him a few times at Eastwood Hifi. Not that I’m a big hifi spender, mind you, but I do like to have good sound in the house. I understand that Clive will be doing some Podcast discussions with Steve, the proprietor of Eastwood Hifi. Check it out here: http://www.eastwoodhifi.com.au/ Just don’t expect consistent site design!

    Never seen Robbo at the West Ryde Sydney Live Steam Society (http://www.pnc.com.au/~wallison/slsls.htm) track. I guess it’s only a matter of time. I wonder how long my daughters will let me keep using them as an excuse to go.

    I’d love to see him in church some time… That would be fun!

    — Richard Neale · Sep 19, 05:17 AM · #

  2. Well there you go – you probably served me a few times at DS Gore Hill, Richard!

    Thanks for sharing your connections with Robbo. He’s a fascinating bloke.

    — Neil · Sep 19, 01:28 PM · #

  3. Neil, it’s quite possible. There were a few celebs coming through the door back then, and you may have been one.

    I clearly remember selling Colin Bond (racing car driver) a burglar alarm, Katrina Lee a torch, and Ross Higgins (Ted Bullpitt) something-I-can’t-remember.

    They were fun days, and the staff discount was superb. My first computer, a Dick Smith System 80 (Tandy TRS-80 clone) cost me $275 for an item that was retailing for $750 (it was the ‘business’ version with keypad instead of tape player). I bought the expansion box (which got me up to a massive 48k of RAM), had a pair of 180k 5.25inch disc drives (got them up to 180k from the standard 100k using the Percom Doubler board in the expansion box) and a fabulous 6cps daisy wheel printer!

    By my reckoning, the current NerdBox has 40,000 times the RAM and about 1,000,000 times as much magnetic storage. The CPU lags miles behind, running at only about 1,600 times the speed.

    — Richard Neale · Sep 19, 03:28 PM · #

  4. Now we’re in danger of sounding like two old cogers living in the 70’s!

    My first computer was a ‘Super 80’ sold as a kit by DS (via EA or ETI mag), but my first ‘real machine was also a System 80 (bought 2nd hand) and the Expansion module. But I waited for a TRS-80 Model 3 before I spent something like $1000 for 2 double-sided 5,25” floppy drives.
    First printer was a converted teletype machine using a serial interface built from parts of DS. Good grief, the things we did!

    I could go on, but I suspect I would alienate many readers! ;-)

    — Neil · Sep 19, 08:56 PM · #

  5. Which teletype? I ALMOST bought a Model 19 (the one with the tape reader on the side) for my ham radio activities. But Dad said it was too old and greasy, and I never did get into radio-teletype! Haven’t picked up a ham radio mic in anger for years now—somehow the computer and mobile phones have killed off such ‘romance’ as ever attached to that medium. Still have the licence, though…

    [Puts anorak back on…]

    — Richard Neale · Sep 20, 06:04 AM · #

  6. I don’t recall the model TTY – didn’t have a tape reader, and was in pretty poor condition, but it was very exctiing to actually have a way of printing from my computer!
    People today wouldn’t understand that ‘buzz’.
    Even then, I was working on how computers could be useful in ministry…

    (slips on Holden sloppy-joe, having given the anorak away a l-o-n-g time ago)

    — Neil · Sep 20, 01:59 PM · #

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