THE SAD PASSING OF ROBERT JOSEPH DYSON

Born on 3 May 1940
Passed away on 14 December 2017
Late of MOUNT SHERIDAN
Aged 77 years

I was deeply saddened when I received an email from Shannon Hastie, Bob’s Granddaughter, notifying me of his passing. 

Bob was already a First Class Prison Officer when I joined the Department of Corrective Services in May 1971.  He was a great man and an immense inspiration for me to keep pursuing my career.  

Bob was an Officer who was firm but fair in his dealings with all of those with whom he came into contact.  He did not suffer fools lightly.  He called a spade a spade and you always knew where you stood with him. Just one of his many wonderful qualities.

Bob and I became good friends and my family has visited his home on a number of occasions where we enjoyed the company of his wife Elizabeth and his young children. 

Bob was a man with strict morals and upright intentions. I also enjoyed his company on a number of social occasions.

In the last year or two, we were in constant contact.  He helped me immensely in the writing of my books and shared many stories that my readers will surely remember.  I have often written about Bob under the title of “The Tall Man”. 

You can read many stories about Bob in my books “Cutting the Bars -  Volumes 1, 2 & 3” and “Australia’s Best Prison Stories”.  It was Bob who gave me the information for my chapter on Katingal.  He had been hand selected to work in Australia’s first Supermax Prison at the Long Bay Complex by the then Superintendent John McTaggart.  He worked there from the day it opened until the day it controversially closed.

Following the closure of Katingal, Bob was transferred to the Metropolitan Remand Centre and was later promoted to the illustrious rank of Assistant Superintendent. 

Bob has always been forthright in his opinions in relation to the New South Wales Prison System. He was never afraid to write letters and speak on talk back radio in relation to some of the issues he did not agree with, in fact he kept me well informed of these, and some of my previous blogs are a result of information supplied to me from Bob.

I will miss our telephone calls and emails that we so regularly enjoyed.  Bob was a good, loyal friend and I will cherish every moment we spent together, both working and socially.  

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Liz and their family at this very sad time.  There is no doubt that Liz has not only lost her beloved husband of many years, but also her best friend.

His granddaughter Shannon has set up a memorial site for you to peruse and leave a comment should you wish to do so.  The link to the site is: https://www.heavenaddress.com/Robert-Joseph-Dyson/1780530/

Bob suffered from that insidious disease cancer which took him much too soon.  We will miss you Bob.  Rest in peace old mate.

Peter and Margaret Egge

Funeral service will be held at Chapel of Cairns Crematorium, Foster Road, Mount Sheridan, QLD on Friday, 22nd December 2017 at 11:00 AM. Committal service will be held at Cairns Crematorium, Foster Rd, QLD.