CHAMPION IN AND OUT OF WATER
RETIRED champion swimmer Don Robertson is celebrating his 93rd birthday next week.
The Runaway Bay man, who “came out of retirement at 92” to volunteer for the Commonwealth Games, has spent his life dedicated to sport and swimming.
But what some people might not know is that the passionate athlete is also a massive supporter of the arts industry on the Gold Coast.
Mr Robertson is an active benefactor of the arts and spends most of his days at the Home of the Arts at Bundall “checking out the latest performances and movies or at- tending Probus Club meetings”.
The past few weeks have kept Mr Robertson exceptionally busy attending the 37th Gold Coast Eisteddfod, which he supports by providing scholarships to up-and-coming local performers.
And he’s always up for spotting young talent and offering words of encouragement.
“You can tell straight away the young people who have a performing future,” he said.
“They might be up there as part of an ensemble cast, but they stand out as if they own the stage.”
While being a sponsor of upand-coming talent, Mr Robertson’s first love is swimming.
“I grew up participating in surf lifesaving and swimming in the surf,” he said.
“I then joined the swim club and that’s where I developed my love for the pool.’’
He still tries to swim daily to keep fit.
Mr Robertson has been a starter for swimming at numerous Australian championships and the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games.
“I’d been starting all Australian championships all around, every state, for 30 years,” he said. “After the 1982 Games I’d been at it over 30 years, I retired.
“When on television it was announced the Gold Coast got the 2018 Games, my first thought was ‘great, you’re going to have to volunteer’.
“Then I sat down and thought, you silly old bugger, you’ll be 92 before that happens.
“But I did anyhow.” Mr Robertson was a spectator assistant at the swimming events during the Games, held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
I’D BEEN STARTING ALL AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS ALL AROUND, EVERY STATE, FOR 30 YEARS DON ROBERTSON