Dale Carnegie, the motivational guru of the 70’s, taught “memory” by power of association. The late Fred Campbell, a devotee, could walk into a room of 100 and greet people, individually, by name.

I myself, a less successful student, use music to prod the brain to clearly recall events.

Bee Gees - playing marbles; Colonel Bogey - school fife band; Bob the Builder - Rob Akers.

Robert George Akers died as a result of cancer in October 2006, just making his 65th birthday. In the fiery competition of political life, Rob could mix it with the best but always with good manners and a quiet, reserved dignity on his side. He was our local Pine Rivers political rep, on and off, for two decades. I fondly remember his failures and successes and at the end of his life, he left this community with lots more than dozens of other politicians before and after him.

An amazingly private man to be in the public arena with an almost retiring nature, by quiet constancy and using a vast network of acquaintances in and out of the public service, he built a reputation of trust and confidence and ultimate achievement for his beloved Pine Rivers.

Many now lay claim to his creations that came from the regimented mind of being a professionally trained architect. Numerous ribbons were cut at official openings of his achievements by brash pollies. His legacies are buildings such as the kindy, Aquatic Centre, Police Station, Community Centre, and that is just Albany Creek.

Remember in 1973 when he was first elected to Pine Council, we had the Albany Creek State School and the Salvation Army Hall. No others. Many groups benefited from his concept designs, personal financial guarantees and his ability to convince others to prise open the public purse.

I was his campaign manager over a 15 year period and he certainly didn’t fit the Liberal blue rinse set but he was the instigator in the grass roots creation of numerous branches with an all time high membership of in excess of 500.

He recruited National Party stalwart, Yvonne Chapman, as a liberal councilor; he campaigned for Neville Bonner; he was the vocal ‘small l’ of the Liberal Party at local and state level; he detested door knocking; couldn’t see the sense in haranguing passive vehicles with a microphone in hand on the back of an election truck.

From 1974 in State Parliament – Yes, he stood up to Sir Joh. Met is wife, firebrand Rosemary Kyburz. Was part of the unsuccessful ginger group to promote Terry White (chemist) as leader of an autonomous party. Was in tears at the spiteful anarchy of the Bellevue destruction and remained a grass roots member who “made things happen”.

We knew on the eve of the 1983 State Election that he was a certain loser at the polls the next day to Yvonne Chapman. We knew in 1994, that as sitting Pine Council Mayor, history was to repeat itself.

Personally, I don’t think he ever got over the loss of political life. His beloved Lions Club and family finally received his full attention and his memorial service of November 3rd highlighted some of his achievements.

I am immensely proud, as I conduct my business and community work around Pine Rivers, of what I achieved as your local councillor in some 5 years.

Rob has left a brilliant legacy to our community from his 20 years as leader of local public affairs. He was a quiet, dignified man, who made it happen.

When you next hear THAT tune, hopefully it will be a memory recall of what Albany Creek did not have before Rob.

Vale - Rob the Builder. PETER CAMPBELL – 3/11/06

TO RENT TO BUY TO SELL
Peter Campbell - 0418 774 663