21/01/2026
It was a privilege and the best musical education on earth to perform with the Oils for the Makarrata and Resist tours with my dear mate . I stood next to Rob every night feeling the intensity and power of his energy flying off him as he drove his once-in-a-lifetime band forward. I’ve never experienced anything like the Oils’ synergy and never will again. And as a songwriter Rob was an idol - no-one else has captured and told the Australian colonial story as well, as thoughtfully and as truthfully as him with such chest-ripping musicality.
His wicked sense of humour and indefatigable curiosity about other people made me, and so many other Australian musicians, feel listened to and respected and made him the fearless activist that he was. What an incredible, deeply kind, intelligent and emotionally dexterous person. My love goes to his Oils and his beautiful family, to whom he was so utterly devoted.
It won’t be the same without you, Uncle Rob. X
