Here’s to you, Mr Robinson
As an 11-year-old, Graham Robinson wrote his own report card.
More impressively, he wrote the teacher’s note: ‘‘I find it hard to write about Graham’s work without appearing gushing.’’
But it seems there was truth to the words he penned over 50 years ago.
The Hamilton Boys’ High School deputy principal died of a medical event on the school grounds on Saturday. He was 64.
Robinson’s family and school have since been overwhelmed with messages from those who knew him.
Students affectionately called him Robocop, a nickname that symbolised his commitment to school rules and traditions, whether it be detention or school uniform – straight socks, tucked in shirts and hair above the shoulders.
But while most students saw him as the disciplinarian, he always spoke to the boys with genuine care and respect.
The deputy principal was fiercely loyal to his school.
There was not a Saturday during term that you wouldn’t find him on the school grounds by 6am, readying soap and cloths for the ‘‘special’’ students chosen to polish furniture and wipe windows.
Duly, it would be Hamilton Boys’ High School – his school – where he lay in state yesterday.
Mourners spilled out of the school hall, lining the back walls and corridors, preparing to grieve and celebrate the man who served a 27-year tenure.
Former student Daniel Ng played the cello as Robinson’s casket was brought in.
It was draped with a korowai, gifted by a colleague who said it symbolised his mana.
Flowers, picked fresh from Robinson’s garden earlier that morning, adorned the top.
And then the hundreds who packed the hall were treated to stories of Robinson pre-Robocop.
Ethel Robinson said her son was the fourth of five children.
When he was five, he asked for a sibling.
But unbeknown to him, his mum was heavily pregnant with his sister, Gillian.
And the two were stuck at the hip, the 101-year-old said.
‘‘He considered Gillian his baby and was always willing to take her with him, that is, until he wanted to go out with girls.’’
Edward Robinson told stories of how his blond, curly-haired brother made his own surfboards, waxed them, and then snuck out of school to surf at Bombay Beach – hinting that he may have received many a detention in his younger years.
Principal Susan Hassall said she was grateful to be with her friend when he collapsed on Saturday.
‘‘He deserves the love shown today,’’ Hassall said.
‘‘Everyone who knows Graham would agree he based his life and his character on strong, traditional values.
‘‘His final school report said he was a wonderful influence and example to younger students.
‘‘Graham would have complained about a lack of a preposition in that statement.’’
Hassall said Robinson was always the one who made sure the executive team would win the staff swimming relay year after year.
‘‘And we will miss the way he cared for the boys on Saturday detention.
‘‘Many a recidivist at our Saturday detention showed the impact of Graham’s teaching as I witnessed over the years a genuine improvement in window cleaning and furniture polishing.
‘‘We grieve that we have lost someone so special.’’
Angelica Robinson said her dad took people as he found them, and, ‘‘as you know, he always preferred to find them with their socks up and shirts tucked in.
‘‘To many of you, he was a teacher, a colleague, a friend, a future thinker.
‘‘To all of us, he was an advocate, a supporter, but he was also a swing-set builder, a magician, a 52 pickup legend, and a master and inventer of dad jokes.’’
She said her dad would always call instead of text people, which would often prompt a discussion between the pair.
‘‘But now my wish is that he would ring me at five in the morning to tell me what a beautiful day it is.
‘‘I know that I’ve always shared my dad with his other family, Hamilton Boys’ High School, and he talked about all the great things that were going on.
‘‘Looking back at my dad’s life, his story and our story together, there have never been truer words spoken than this: a wise man carves his own fortune.’’
‘‘He deserves the love shown today. Everyone who knows Graham would agree he based his life and his character on strong, traditional values.’’
Principal Susan Hassall