The man who simply couldn’t say no to a request for help, Pakenham icon Robbie MacGregor has passed away, leaving a lifetime of stories and laughs that many will fondly remember him by.
Robert Charles MacGregor died on Thursday 25 September at the age of 84. He was born on 22 February 1941 and moved to Pakenham with his parents when he was 14 years old.
Affectionately known as Robbie, he is recognised as the longest serving paperboy ever at over 50 years.
He is best remembered on his push bike, riding from place to place asking if he could help with the many odd jobs for just about everyone throughout Main Street and surrounds.
His sister Ailsa Crook remembers him as a “gentle soul” known for his “royal wave” around town.
“Very loved, very generous, very gentle and never complained,” she said.
“He waved to everybody, whether he knew them or not, so everyone got to know him from his royal wave.”
Alex Scott and Sons, Pakenham Travel, the Station Street medical clinic, Pakenham Newsagency, Lazy Frog and the old Gazette office were just a few of the spots he would pop in to ask if they needed a hand.
Most of all, he loved stops at the old ambulance and police stations as well as the fire brigade on John Street, where he is a life member.
Mr MacGregor swept the floors, took out the bins, posted the mail; he did just about anything, all you needed to do was ask.
Ailsa remembers times when he was asked to do a bit too much by some of the new businesses, prompting a quick talk from her because Mr MacGregor just wasn’t someone who could say no.
He awoke at 5.30am every day to deliver the papers; he did so for around 55 years and was named the longest serving paperboy in Australia.
He would sweep the floor for his good friend and fellow Pakenham icon, Graham Treloar at his old family barber.
Just a week before his death, Mr Treloar drove up from Phillip Island to Officer’s Cardinia Community Aged Care to cut his old friend’s hair; an ongoing, exclusive service for Mr MacGregor because “he wouldn’t let anyone else do it.”
“He was an icon to people around the town and was loved by everybody, did jobs for everybody, everyone knew him,” Mr Treloar said.
He loved his parents, Margaret and Roy, though his sister admits he was a bit of a mama’s boy.
Later in life, Mr MacGregor looked after his mother at their King Street home until her passing in 2009.
To the Pakenham of old, he was anything but a stranger and his birthdays continued to see familiar faces appear despite how far away their home may be today.
He was a regular at the old Gazette office on Main Street, former owner of the Gazette, the late Ian Thomas would end up checking in with him later in life.
With time, he did forgive them for the move from Main Street to today’s office on Army Road, a location he could only get to with a lift given his meticulous safety standards on his pushbike.
He did the same after the police station moved to the Princes Highway in the then-new Lakeside development.
Mr MacGregor was a brother and brother-in-law to Bruce, Ailsa and Merilyn (deceased) and their spouses Joan, Norman and Paul.
Mr MacGregor is also remembered by nine nephews and nieces and 13 great nephews and nieces.
