Ex-newsreader 'Robbo' on 1980s fame, the Jolimont Siege, the Raiders' heyday and post-celebrity life

Former newsreader Greg ‘Robbo’ Robson was the most well-known Canberran in the late 1980s, according to a survey by lobbyist Richard Farmer.

His career rise coincided with a golden era in the capital – the longtime breakfast radio host became a TV sports reporter when the Raiders were winning premierships and then graduated to lead news anchor at a time when we had hour-long local evening TV bulletins.

During his tenure, he delivered Canberra the news of John Lennon’s assassination, Australia’s America Cup win and Princess Diana’s death. He also hosted the Birdman Rally and became news himself when he was trapped in his radio studio while a gunman laid siege to the Jolimont Centre, a tragedy he reported on during the evening TV bulletin.

The now 65-year-old moved away from the limelight in the 2000s and currently works as a real estate agent in Batemans Bay. Region caught up with him to reflect on a career covering events that shaped the capital and his post-celebrity life.

How did you rise to fame in Canberra?

After growing up in Sydney, I went to radio school and cracked my first job in Young before being offered a gig doing radio in Canberra in 1979.

I then became part of the first male-female radio breakfast team in Australia with Donna Lynch, which did really well.

I saw an ad in the paper for a weekend TV weatherman; I applied for that. My mother bought me a book about the weather when I was young; it was a topic that always fascinated me. I grew up wanting to be a TV weatherman, a radio announcer and a VFL player for Carlton. I achieved two of those goals.

Then you became the sports reporter?

Yes, and I also had my own sports show on Saturday afternoons for a few years. I got mixed up with the Raiders during their heyday; I ended up on the bus with them in Sydney after their grand final wins.

A highlight of my career was being able to deliver the news that the Raiders won the 1989 premiership to Canberra and Queanbeyan, where they were based at the time.

But I also made one of the biggest mistakes in my career when I referred to Queanbeyan as ‘struggle town’. I said, “Struggle Town has come of age”. I meant that in a good way, but the locals didn’t appreciate it. I got a lot of feedback about it when I was on the Raiders premiership parades.

Did becoming the most well-known Canberran affect your career?

Richard Farmer did the survey while I was doing breakfast radio. At the time, I was earning $100. I told them I wasn’t going to get up early every day for that amount, so they tripled my pay to $300. Capital television also doubled my pay. I bumped into Richard five years ago and thanked him for changing my life.

When our newsreader Geoff Hiscock left the station, they made me the main newsreader. In an hour-long local bulletin, we got to cover a lot of sports and events that don’t get coverage anymore. We had a phenomenal team.

Tell us about the 1993 Jolimont Centre Siege

A lone gunman caused extensive damage and the centre was set on fire. We were trapped upstairs in the radio studio, which had three panes of sound-proof glass, which I was worried that I would not be able to smash. The police had their guns pointed at me as I smashed the windows, thinking I was the gunman. But we then climbed down a ladder, and I was very lucky to escape alive.

I read the news that night with the lead story involving me.

How did your role as a TV newsreader end?

The Southern Cross broadcasters took over and thought the only way they could grow revenue was to sack people – they took away resources and cut Canberra and regional news everywhere. It was a very sad day when it all ended in 2001.

However, I had seen the writing on the wall earlier and signed a deal to get back on 2CA, so I continued to do morning radio for many years after that. I also worked for a few marketing companies before venturing into real estate.

What’s life like now?

I went from a game that was a popularity contest to a game where everyone hates you – real estate.

I thought being a marketing man would be an advantage in my new career, but people didn’t recognise me as a real estate agent, they saw me as a media personality. I had to start from scratch.

I moved to Batemans Bay three years ago after 42 years in Canberra. I’m happily sharing life with Debi Kerr, who is affectionately known as contestant number three in my love life.

I regularly go back to Canberra to visit my two sons in Queanbeyan who didn’t follow in my footsteps. Sam is a plumber, and Alex is in IT Recruitment.

Do people remember you as ‘Robbo’?

It’s unbelievable. Even down on the coast when I do open homes, people see me and say, “I know your face”.

I had a wonderful 40-year career. I experienced the heyday of radio and television at a time when we were valued, but in the end, we weren’t valued. That’s the way it goes.