SPOTLIGHT ON AUSSIE RULES (By Jack Luhrs)

Wayne "Chummy" Robins was 23 years old when he died. Married with one child, companionable in some instances, vocal in the things he believed to right, Wayne's nature made him a personality with those within his contact. His affability was not always obvious, at times he crossed in word and acted in conflict with those he meant least to offend. Wayne was these things but he also many others. His humour was contagious, his relaxed approach boarded almost on the nonchalant, but always with the free and easy manner of strong mate-ship. The latter aspect was a valuable part of the way Wayne saw things. No stronger manner was this obvious than through the relationship with his brothers, Sid and Ralph. At least this is as I saw Wayne Robins. Of his other family I did not know and have no freedom of comment in this sphere. It's Wayne Robins, the footballer that most people knew him best of all. Wayne was a product of local promotion. He first wore a Griffith jersey in 1963 as a raw but enthusiastic member of Swans' Under 14's schoolboy side. The normal progression followed through the Under 16's, followed by a season in the Third 18 and the following year playing in the Reserve Grade. The Swans under Ron O'Neill won the First-Grade premiership in 1968 and in his first year of senior football Wayne Robins made a valuable contribution to this victory. Apart from one exception, Wayne Robins played all his football with Griffith. The exception was last season when he with his brother Ralph, joined the Whitton Tigers for one year. The previous season, Wayne was a member of Ron Russell's whiz-kids, a team of rags and riches, Griffith youngsters that went within an inch of stealing the 1971 Premiership from Leeton. This year was the year Wayne reached his football maturity. His early flamboyant recklessness was replaced by the skill of confident judgement but always underlined with courage it takes to compete in a man's game with men. No greater compliment could be paid to his ability when in the Leeton game, after six matches as a ruckman, Wayne was selected as a half back flanker in an attempt to plug a weakness that had plagued the Swans up till that stage. The records tell of how the Swans tottered on the brink of defeat and had to come from 29 points down at three quarter time to steal victory by three points with the last scoring kick of the game. Wayne Robins was the Swans' best player in that match, in fact he stood out as the only winner in the early parts when the Swans were being destroyed by the skill of their opponents. It was automatic he retained this key posting in the Griffith side along-side brother, Sid at centre half back. One can only ponder on the fierce pride the Robins brothers must have enjoyed when in the Turvey Park game last Sunday week, brother Ralph joined Sid and Wayne to comprise the entire Griffith half back line to make South West League history as the only occasion three brothers had played in this manner. Maybe it would have happened for the second time last Sunday against Ganmain but it was not to be. Last Friday, Wayne met his death near Albury, yesterday he was buried in the town of his birth, surrounded by his two great loves, his family and the football world he adored.

(The Area News -  Wednesday July 18th, 1973)