Dr Robbie's legacy of caring for the community

Died: October 8, 2025

‘Dr Robbie’ had the good fortune to choose a life he loved – living and working in Deniliquin with his family for 54 years.

With that choice came a lot of good times, lots of friendship and support in difficult times, particularly after the recent passing of his much-loved son Nick.

Pete was a Melbourne boy who spent part of his childhood in Thorpdale and Swan Hill.

Most of Pete’s family were teachers and artists (and, of course, tennis players), and he was quite the rebel going into medicine.

Growing up, his family had a weekend bush block down at Somers, Victoria.

Over time, Pete’s father, Harold, and uncles added interesting extensions to a classic Aussie beach shack.

His mother Jeannie, when not playing tennis, cooked over an open fire while waiting for a kitchen.

Pete, his twin sister Jen, and their older siblings Marg and John spent their days swimming, fishing, sailing, playing tennis, and long beach walks.

He attended Melbourne High School and then Monash University, enjoying all sports but especially football, becoming the captain of Monash.

In 1967, he graduated from medical school and married Margaret, who was a nurse at The Royal Melbourne.

To prepare to become a general practitioner, he spent one year working at Prince Henry’s and another at the Royal Children's and Royal Women’s.

Peter then decided to work as a locum in a rural practice, to save money to travel overseas.

They chose Deniliquin because it had a lawn tennis club and a beautiful river, both within a block of the hospital.

He joined Drs Middleton and Horton’s practice for a year.

After promising ‘Middy’ to return, they then loaded themselves and seven week-old son Nicholas onto an apple cargo boat bound for Finland.

Pete worked their passage as the ship's doctor.

The family spent time in London and Cornwall, where Pete worked in general practice, and toured Europe in a Kombi van.

On returning to Australia, daughter Stephanie arrived and Peter worked at the Queen Victoria to gain further experience in obstetrics.

A year later, Middy called Peter, and again offered him a permanent position in his practice.

And so the family’s life in Deniliquin began, and their third child, Sonya was born.

Pete was truly happy working at Deni Hospital and his practice, and we could fill the PT talking about the incredible people he worked with and the fabulous people he and his wife Marg have known over the years.

Pete was part of incredible teams at his practice, Deni Hospital, Navorina, and Orana.

This included his long-term partner, Dr Taras Mikulin.

Pete especially enjoyed a country practice because it allowed him to work over so many departments and areas, and to provide care to his patients at all stages of their lives.

Although Pete never liked ceremony and formality, he was quite overwhelmed by his colleagues successfully nominating him for the Order of Australia.

And enjoyed a cocktail and hobnobbing on the governor's lawn for the afternoon.

The other day, one of his former staff members told us that one afternoon she searched and searched for the file of the last patient and appointment of the day - T Court - before Pete returned to the office and told her the patient's first name.

And of course, some mothers remember Pete turning up to deliver their babies fresh off the court in his tennis clothes.

In more recent years, the Deni Golf Club was yet another second home.

Despite Alzheimer’s, Pete felt very much himself on the course and could still whack a good ball.

During Pete’s illness, many friends, former patients, and fellow colleagues have taken the time to share memories.

Many people have reminded us of Pete’s favourite expression, “What do you think?”.

We shared all such thoughts and well-wishes with Pete.

A few other Deni memories (among many):

Pete’s delight at riding out with Tommy Loy to hunt rabbits with waddy-style sticks (Pete was not successful).

Marg telling him he wasn’t allowed to take any more flying lessons (though the instruction was excellent).

Zipping out on his lunch breaks to go water skiing with another young doc - Peter Tennent.

A batch of his eye-watering mulberry wine exploding in the hall cupboard.

And raucous Easters of tennis, jazz, old friends up from Melbourne, and good times.

As Pete’s sister Jennifer said, he had a good humoured, straightforward approach to life that made the world seem a little less complex; he was his own person.

A life well lived, and as Pete would say, “tennis was the winner”.

His family have had the great joy of living in a country town, sharing that life, the laughs and memories with such a great community.

It was particularly lovely for Pete to see Nick and Leah pass those values and lifestyle on to his grandchildren, Ava and Henry.

We would like to thank everyone who sent cards, left messages, posted on social media, wrote letters and shared their thoughts about Peter - they will be cherished.

~ With love and thanks, the Robinson family.