I picked-up the nickname HiFiRobbie after working in a place with three Robbies. We had Horse Robbie, Pilot Robbie and HiFiRobbie. After then, it just kinda stuck.
I first became interested in electronics and computers through my father. He was an engineer with NCR in his early years before becoming a fulltime desk jockey for them. He was kinda lucky to have been at the forefront of the transition from mechanical adding machines, to electronic. I used to go in to work with him and load-up games like Star-Trek which was a completely text based game loaded painfully slowly from a cassette tape. You would then thrill as the numbers indicated on the 10" monochrome monitor told you how may klingons you had, and where and how many phasers you had left to use. Awesome fun! LOL! LONG LIVE 70's and 80's technology!!
My first introduction to HiFi was his first system, which I treated as my own. The speakers were 15" RCA Victors in custom cabinets, a Sansui integrated amplifier and a Garrard turntable. I fell in love with music through it and the sound it would produce.
As my dad and his friends continued to upgrade, I saw all kinds of things. Quad ESL's by the dozen, "Voice of the Theatre" systems and some huge Altec Lansing horn systems that scared the crap outta me at the time due to their intimidating look.
Over the years I began to play a lot of music. I was firtunate enough to be sent to a good school with an excellent music programme where I played a variety of instruments such as: Keys, Alto and Tenor Saxophone, Drums and Percussion (Tuned and Untuned), Guitar and dabbled in a few others. We also had a 24 track analogue recording studio where I learned about monitoring and mixing. I did live sound for any of the school performances I wasn't playing in and also for a couple of local civic centres.
After school I became a motor mechanic after deciding to chase my other passion - cars. During my time on the tools I continued to play with HiFi, working on my own systems and learning from others'. I workied in a few specialist auto shops fixing makes such as Porsche, Lotus, Ferarri, Jaguar, BMW and Mercedes to name a few. I also built ski-boats and engines for a water-ski shop for a while before taking a job as a tuning specialist.
After leaving the trade I headed to the airlines. Started loading baggage for Virgin Blue in 2000 and became a flight attendant a year later, getting to travel all over the country with over 1000 of the best looking girls in the country.
They called that a job!!??
In my downtime I was playing drums in a few bands and helping out OzAVI with his custom install work. After 6 years of flying and climbing through the ranks I decided that I'd had enough. I started sub-ing for OzAVI every week and soon we had enough work for the pair of us to do our own thing, while occasionally calling on each-other for a hand to pull some cables or lift something heavy into place.
About 18 months ago, my local HiFi shop that I had frequented for the last 10 years (since I could afford to shop there) had the first job opening they'd had in nearly 20 years. It was offered to me and I have worked there part-time since, selling brands such as Wilson Audio, B&W, Electrocompaniet, Meridian, NAD, Classe and more...
I am now the project manager for one of the most elite custom installation and automation companies in Australia and with "Trustworthy" (introduced at the top of the page) and a team of admin and install staff, tackle the likes of 2,500+ sqm homes in order to make them sing and work in harmony using brands like Genelec, Triad, Denon, Stewart, Sim2, AMX and RTI.
I am thankful every day for the opportunities that I have encountered on my journey so far and work hard to support myself and all who depend on me - both at work and at home.
Robbie.
Problems worthy of attack, prove their worth, by hitting back. -Piet Hein.
