Obituary
Robert (Bob) Glassborow
25 July1913 -13 January 2014
CENTENARIAN BOB Glassborow always said his inquiring mind had kept him healthy,
The 100-year-old loved a laugh and wanted to always learn new things.
The Upwey resident of more than 60 years loved his time in the hills too.
When he met with the Mail just before his 100th birthday in July, he looked back on his many achievements in life with a smile.
Born on 25 July 1913 in Ouyen, Victoria, Mr Glassborow (or Glassy to his mates) grew up on his family’s farm about an hour away from Mildura before moving to the Dandenong district to finish his schooling at Dandenong High School.
“I lived with dad and worked on the farm going around doing odd jobs,” Mr Glassborow said.
“If you are born on a farm you can do anything, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
He then joined his brother working for life insurance company AMP for a few years before joining the Air Force.
“The Air Force took me in because the war started,” Mr Glassborow said.
“I spent six years there, I went to the Middle East and spent some time in Australia, too.”
Working as a signals officer, Mr Glassborow, who left his wife Dulcie and two young daughters Barbara and Jenny behind in Australia, was in Borneo when the war ended.
“That was an interesting experience,” he said.
“We went all over the place, we were supposed to be fighting the war but it was very interesting.”
When he returned home he went back to working in insurance, especially when given the opportunity to hit the road in country Victoria.
“I loved that, new towns, new roads, new country people,” he said.
“Being from the country myself they welcomed me with open arms. I really enjoyed life.”
In 1948, Mr Glassborow and the family moved to Upwey.
“There was lots of available property then,” he said.
“I made a lot of great friends.”
In 1959, he married his second wife Winsome and they continued to live in Upwey.
“I loved living in the Valley, if something happened someone always helped out and looked after you,” he said.
“Many things changed, but the people is what make a town.”
Mr Glassborow listed his great achievements as two beautiful daughters, his work with the Upwey Tecoma Football Club (which beat Belgrave in its very first Grand Final), being part of the priginal committee for Knoxbrooke Incorporated and working with the Rotary Club of Belgrave.
A service to remember Bob Glassborow will be held on Wednesday 22 January at 10.30am at Heritage Funerals, 733 Boronia Road, Wantirna. The service will be followed by a private cremation.
