In Memory of Bob Gibbon Sensei

It was a sad day when we learned our friend and collegue Bob Gibbon had suddenly passed away. His collegues would like to express their great sorrw at the loss of such a loving person.

Bob was a 'people person' who always bought his personal philosophy to bear on his work. Amongst many educational achievements, including a Bachelor of Arts from Newcastle University, Bob had a Diploma in Teaching and for a while taught in the NSW Department of Corrective Services before joining Veterans' Affairs in December 1980. 

In August 1981 he moved to the Department of Defence. Bob joined the ATO Corporate Services Group in 1990 and moved on to the Small Business Income Human Resource Unit in 1994. In early 1995 Bob relocated to the Chermside Office in a national Human Resource role within Small Business Income. Consolidation of the ATO's Human Resource resources in 1999 saw Bob's final move to ATO Corporate. Bob was appointed team leader of the ATO Skilling Queensland team early this year. A remembrance for Bob was held on Tuesday, 18 June, attended by his colleagues, his National Management team and Ruth and Peter Dixon, Bob's sister and brother-in-law. 

“Bob was a hard working, driven-to-achieve person, always polite, courteous and kind. We all learnt positive things from our involvement with him.”

Thoughts from Bob Gibbon’s colleagues at the ATO

Gerald Byrne
Assistant Commissioner
ATO Relations, Brisbane

I am sitting at home very sadly and reflecting on the energy, joy and ‘Bobness’ that Bob would bring into any gathering. His simplicity and complexity at the same time; his view of the world that was so often different in its approach – often challenging and always positive and with the best of intentions; always seeking something better for all.

Bob was Bob. He was a wonderful person.

Martin Crowe
Design Facilitation
Integrated Tax Design, OCOM, Canberra

I never thought that I would be at a loss to say something funny or give everyone the impression of anything but aloofness or impassiveness at times like this, but this has hit me harder than I would ever have imagined. Maybe it’s because Bob was such a genuine person. Bob was the most passionate bloke I have met about nearly anything in his work life. He never bitched or moaned. I know people sometimes used to give him short shift on issues, but  he carried on regardless. When I first met Bob, I thought he was from another planet. Bob spoke and wrote a language that was so foreign to me that I didn't have a clue at all what he was on about. I was not alone. I remember people's faces at the SB HR Coogee conference when Bob gave us an Aikido demo. When he entered the room in all his paraphernalia, jaws dropped. He won people's respect by the end of the demo though.

Over the years, I learnt about Bob. A couple of years ago, Bob was working for me on field stuff and it was then that I truly saw Bob's value. He could get things started where I couldn't. He saw things from a perspective, I just struggled with. And that's how I used Bob. Don't leave him on an issue too long, but throw him in when you want things shook up a bit. People later came to me expressing concern or reluctance about employing Bob, but I can honestly say, I always recommended him highly in the light of what I just said.

Anyway, I'll be having a beer for Bob - I just wish that it was with him....

Allyson Dutton
National Director,
Excise, Wollongong

I can remember one of the funniest times with Bob, when we were recovering from the skills audit and consulting with parts of SB/WHT about their results. Bob arrived from Brisbane, with his usual baggage - which at that time was a very large suitcase on wheels with not much in it - and proceeded to drag it around National Office in the discussions with staff. While that was pretty funny and very Bob, around the same time, I noticed him walking funny, always with his briefcase in front of his pants and I asked was there something wrong. Bob explained that he had busted his fly and didn't have time to get his pants fixed but was continuing on throughout the day, in interviews, with his briefcase always strategically placed. Very Bob. 

On a serious note, I will always remember Bob for his enthusiasm and sheer hard work. I know at times he copped a bit of flack, but he continued on - undeterred. On a personal side, I think he was one of the few people I have met who genuinely cared and believed that they could make a difference to people's working lives. 

Karen Morton
Project Manager
ATO Skilling, Melbourne

Over the last few days quite a few of us have been remembering Bob.

Conversations have frequently been about how we respected him for his dedication to his work. Frustration that sometimes arose when working closely with him is something that we’ve reflected on with a smile and fondness – his thought processes were unique.

He was a hard working, almost driven to achieve person – always polite, courteous and kind. We have all learnt positive things from our involvement with Bob.

Laura Beck
ATO Skilling, Brisbane

A few of us managed to slip behind Bob’s barriers to discover a truly beautiful person.  I am one of those lucky people. I have known and worked with Bob for nearly 4 years – a relatively short time really – but those years gave me a colleague, a mentor and a true friend. His constant support and encouragement helped me through more than one personal crisis in the last couple of years and at the same time he taught me how to survive in the ATO. Bob was a complex person – work, self-achievement, goals, his love of Eastern philosophy, Buddhist teachings and Aikido instruction - but that was Bob the Builder, Bob the Teacher.  When Bob stepped out of that particular square, he was an enthusiastic  learner. He would make time for other down to earth stuff – dinner parties with friends, day trips to Stradbroke Island, the annual baseball picnic and not forgetting the very lively ATO Skilling Xmas parties. This year in particular, Bob, Heke, Brian and myself have laughed a lot and I will miss that most of all.

Mitch Harper
OCTC,Brisbane

Bob’s passing marked a watershed for me as he epitomised my time in ATO skilling . 14 months ago he was the first person I met and spent time with and on my last afternoon in ATO skilling just 2 weeks ago I spent 3-4 hours with Bob. We often talk in our profession about experiential learning and that contact with each other provides an extra dimension to our learning – so what did I learn from time spent with Bob?

I learned that the journey with Bob from Point A to Point B was usually by the most circuitous route possible – for the impatient like me this could be maddening but I learned a lot on the scenic detours – I learned about other options I hadn’t considered and to read situations from some very different angles but mostly I learned the patience to enjoy the journey as much as reaching the end.

Bob also taught me about trusting myself – he knew from the beginning that I disliked up front delivery and needed to over-prepare myself – so he always threw me in at the deep end - at all our co-joint presentations, and there were many, Bob constantly surprised me by handing over at the most unexpected point to cover material he knew I knew but hadn’t prepared – I learned this was deliberate and I learned to trust in my own skills and not be afraid of risk.

Bob had a love of learning new things and exploring new areas and this was our major common ground – he was always genuinely interested and from Bob I learned about sharing – I always believed I truly shared my knowledge and information with others – but Bob taught me that to share knowledge is not just about telling others how to or what to, but it was about making yourself a conduit for others own discovery – thus playing a much humbler sharing role

I think back to the myriad of conversations I had with Bob over the last 14 months, and reflect how much about me, normally carefully hidden, Bob discovered- In our conversations on Psychology, marriage, child rearing, chaos theory, cognitive restructuring even the philosophy of cooking I learned more about me through his gentle inquisitiveness. In fact I often amuse myself with visions of Bob in the roles we discussed – having a Socratic Bob-length conversation with a 5 year old on why sharing will make him a better person.

I also believe that in giving himself to the team he enabled us. How generously and happily he was a foil and victim to my sense of humour - he played the straight man well and I believe intentionally – providing a chance for us all to keep up our spirits and laugh.

 Overall what I learned from Bob changed me just a little, subtly and slowly as when you are guided by the best of coaches ( without even realising it) – not surprising when you consider his name Bob means shining.

Well Bob, I will miss your genuine warmth, enthusiasm, caring and even your quirkiness – the world will be a slightly colder place without you