100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Ashley Robinson: why he's still flying blind after more than 40 years

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Teen faces property, vehicle and drug-related charges

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with multiple offences after an alleged incident in a Sunshine Coast town on Friday morning. Police were called to More

Resort expansion approved after planning battle

A “significantly amended" extension to a resort will go ahead following a lengthy Planning and Environment Court battle. The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) More

Residents call for action at ‘hotspot for speeding vehicles’

Residents in a beachside neighbourhood are calling for a safety upgrade along an increasingly busy road. Almost 80 community members around Wurley Drive have signed More

‘Blood moon’ set to thrill stargazers

Sunshine Coast stargazers are poised to see the longest lunar eclipse since 2022 on Monday morning. The full moon will pass through Earth’s shadow, turning More

First park opens in estate’s latest precinct

Australia’s largest master-planned community has opened its newest park. Hilltop Park in Aura’s new Acacia precinct features a play structure atop a two-metre-high mound with More

Police sergeant charged with child exploitation offences

A Queensland police sergeant has been charged and suspended following allegations of accessing, possessing and distributing child exploitation material. The 40-year-old man from the North More

Being together with Old Mate since 1983, I would have thought I knew everything about how to be in a successful relationship.

Before my dad died, the year after Old Mate and I got together, he told me how to do it: “Just agree with everything they say. If you think you are right, you probably are, but don’t tell them that and you will be bonza.”

Just like Bonza, the failed airline, I have hit some turbulence over those 42 years.

I have managed to stay somewhat on course, although the past three weeks I nearly ended up like Bonza – wrecked!

The past three weeks, due to circumstances I can’t discuss, we have been spending nearly every waking hour together.

What a treat that has been.

I have been a full-on bird butler, which wasn’t going so well until my grandson, Ryder, got on the payroll.

That has probably saved me half a house and he gets a new surfboard. Win win!

Being together for so long, you’d think I would know where everything is. Well, no.

Bird cages have been my biggest challenge. Seeds go exactly here. Fresh food exactly there. The birds get this nut before they go to bed (I’m not sure who the nut is).

Being bird butler is not Ashley Robinson’s specialty. Picture: Shutterstock

Washing up, apparently, doesn’t self-dry if it still has suds on it. Who would have guessed?

I have vacuuming down pat – apart from the fact I do it too quickly. So, I mustn’t be doing as good a job as Old Mate, who takes way longer.

Of course, among all this happiness and me biting my tongue (thanks to Dear Old Dad), we had a pending cyclone, which had added pressure for all and sundry.

Having 29 birds inside the house, sandbags and emergency pot plant storage made for fun times.

Did I mention the only thing that outnumbers the birds are pot plants which, apparently, I am in charge of watering when they finally resume their original position?

Like me, they are looking a bit under the weather.

So, I get sent to water all the pot plants with an accusing stare that means “why haven’t you been?”.

But what I tell you next probably sums up what Old Mate has to put up with.

She comes out to check on my watering skills and just bursts out laughing: “What are you doing? You know those plants are plastic.”

Dad would be so proud.

Ashley Robinson is chairman of the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Sunshine Coast Thunder Netball, and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share