Name: Bob Turpin (no relation to the highwayman – we think).
Suburb: Alexandra Hills.
What’s your business? I’m retired now, but for 50 years I worked in engineering and I’ll tackle anything to do with fitting, turning, engine repairs, maintenance and rebuilding and welding. I did a lot of courses but family responsibilities put paid to tertiary studies.
Do you have any fun/interesting stories about your job? I remember one incident when I was working at a food processing plant. The doors on the bottom of a giant hopper, which was full of beetroot offcuts and slurry, had jammed and my off-sider and I were in the bin of a massive truck underneath trying to release the doors. We knew we’d have to move quickly once they opened. When they did, I was up and over the side in a flash but he was a big, lumbering sort of a fellow and he didn’t move fast enough. He was swimming in beetroot juice and slurry, even his pockets were full of it. It took a while to hose him down.
What’s your favourite local dine-in and take-away? For dine-in, two Wellington Point restaurants that both have excellent food and service, the Punjab Curry Club and Manny’s Italian. For take-away, Loong Wah Chinese Restaurant.
Best local activity? I’m a mad keen golfer, have been since I was 18. I play for the Redland RSL Golf Club and I’m proud to say that even at my age I’m playing off a handicap of 10. (I’m working to get it down to single figures.)
What’s the last book you read? I don’t read fiction, so the last book would have been the engineering manual I read when I totally rebuilt a V6 engine out of a Commodore.
What’s the last TV show or movie you watched? The episode of Josh Gates’ Expedition Unknown that covered the Mayan civilisation and the massive structures that they built in the jungle. That’s fascinating stuff, and they say that so far they’ve probably found only about 10% of them.
Is there anything you’d like to see happen in the local area? You know, I can’t think of a thing; I reckon the Redlands is about as good as it gets, it’s a lovely place to live as it is.
Is there a local business/community group/club you’d like to give a shout-out to? Brenda Roberts and the Knitting Ladies. Every year the golf club gives them a donation to buy wool and they knit really lovely little blankets and rugs for newborn babies. There’s a lot of love and care that goes into their work and they do a wonderful job.
