Robert John O’Brien “Slim”

What a wonderful man you were Slim! Thank you for being part of our lives, being a caring, loving life partner to Auntie Sue and a wonderful true friend to my Dad. Love to everyone that is dealing with grief losing you. May you now Rest In Peace. Forever in our hearts. Lots of Love Joeli xx

With love memories .a hard worker and brother in love .rest in peace

R..I.P Slim. You were such a big part of my life in Illabarook and I will never forget all the memories of you not only as our family shearer but also a
best mate and someone that was always there for us. You will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by us all Robbie. Until we meet again Rest In Peace.o

I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better
Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ago,
He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him,
Just “on spec”, addressed as follows: “Clancy, of The Overflow”.

And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected,
(And I think the same was written in a thumbnail dipped in tar)
‘Twas his shearing mate who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it:
“Clancy’s gone to Queensland droving, and we don’t know where he are.”

In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Clancy
Gone a-droving “down the Cooper” where the western drovers go;
As the stock are slowly stringing, Clancy rides behind them singing,
For the drover’s life has pleasures that the townsfolk never know.

And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him
In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars,
And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended,
And at night the wondrous glory of the everlasting stars.

I am sitting in my dingy little office, where a stingy
Ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tall,
And the foetid air and gritty of the dusty, dirty city
Through the open window floating, spreads its foulness over all.

And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle
Of the tramways and the buses making hurry down the street,
And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting,
Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet.

And the hurrying people daunt me, and their pallid faces haunt me
As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste,
With their eager eyes and greedy, and their stunted forms and weedy,
For townsfolk have no time to grow, they have no time to waste.

And I somehow fancy that I’d like to change with Clancy,
Like to take a turn at droving where the seasons come and go,
While he faced the round eternal of the cashbook and the journal –
But I doubt he’d suit the office, Clancy, of “The Overflow”.
A.B (Banjo) Paterson 1889
I doubt he’d suit the office, Robert O’Brien.

Rob, I always enjoyed your visits with us in Melbourne and hearing your shearing stories and your travels in outback Australia.

You are sadly missed and fondly remembered.

Love Mary, Kevin, Jaryd and Nathan.

The most painful goodbyes are ones that are never said and never explained.

Rest well Robbie

Sadly missed and fondly remembered

Aunty Beryl, Vicki, Kim, Mari-Anne & families xoxo

Vale Slimbo. It’s been a privilege to have known and campaigned with you over the years. Condolences to Sue and the family. RIP mate.

R.I.P Slim .You will be very sadly missed mate .Peter Gannon [slammer]

R.I.P lovely man – on behalf of Evan McFarlane (dec) and all his family.

Condolences to Sue and family. We are thinking of you and have lots of good memories of time spent with Slim. Take care.

Vale Slimbo

An amazing man and true friend to my Dad, Evan. I trust he will meet you on your journey to the next realm. We’ll not forget you here.

Condolences to Sue and family.

Danika, Mark and our Sons – Archie Evan and Finn Robert