One morning, when his mobility scooter could not be made to move forwards, he instead reversed it all the way through the town to the garage for repair.

This was one of many memories recalled in eulogy for ‘Robbo’, who died in January after nearly 70 years living in Braidwood.

Born in Young on February 9 in 1917, he took up a motor mechanic’s apprenticeship in Canowindra aged 16.

He later served in this field during WWII. When peace was declared, he settled in Braidwood, where his family had settled, and continued working as a motor mechanic.

In 1947 he married Alison Margaret McDonell at St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church in Goulburn.

They were married for 54 years until she passed in May 2001. They had four children: Margaret, David, Murray and Jock.

Known as ‘Robbo’, Mr Robertson was the proprietor of D&S Motors on Wallace Street, which he had owned since the late 1950s.

Corrine McElligott, one of Mr Robertson’s grand-daughters, gave his eulogy.

She told mourners of her grandfather’s ability to fix anything and his devoted service as an NRMA patrolman.

Her grandfather had learned to drive aged just 10 so as to assist his father travelling between churches in his parish, and his love for all things mechanical had flourished ever since, she said.

Likewise, son Jock Robertson said his father “was just a motor mechanic. through and through”.

He spoke of his father’s resourcefulness. “If he couldn’t buy it he’d make it,” he said.

Ms McElligott also spoke of this, telling how her grandfather and his wife had laboriously manufactured bricks to build their own house.

She spoke of her grandfather’s love for his veggie garden, his chooks and especially his roses.

Mr Robertson will be remembered as an institution in Braidwood and locals will miss his quiet presence at the garage. 

More than 200 people gathered to farewell Mr Robertson in a service at St Andrew’s Anglican on Monday, January 30.