14^th August 2011

At the time of writing this I don't know many details of how or even exactly when Bob died. A mutual kite flyer friend, Warren (Macca) Mactintosh called for me yesterday while I was in a meeting, I was passed a message to call him back.

I really did not want to call my mate Macca as I immediately had a terrible foreboding that I was about to receive sad news. Macca was obviously gutted, it took a while to get some details, but he could not bring himself to say Bob was dead, just that he was on life support in John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, and that he was not coming back from this one. I've now been informed by Mike Richards, that Bob was taken off life support and died at around midnight last night on the 13^th August. Bob donated his kidneys to two very fortunate people.

Bob had fallen from a cherry picker while working at height on a roof at his workplace in Coffs Harbor, the accident happened sometime on Thursday 12^th August. He was taken to Newcastle as his injuries were too severe to treat in Coffs Hospital.

Even though Bob and I were quite close friends I did not know his family well. Bob was married, but recently separated, and leaves behind partner Michelle Dawson who will miss dearly him and his son Craig and daughter Leanne whom he was very close to. There was a new lady in Bobs life too (Robin), they had recently purchased a house together and were due to move into it in a few weeks.

Bobs kiteflying mates would number in the hundreds, possibly thousands. If you flew kites and flew them for the love of it, you were Bobs mate and if he ever saw you flying somewhere you probably met him.

Not long after I bought my first sport kite at a Sunday market in Geelong I met him briefly, at the market, where he was helping another guy sell his kites (Leading Edge). The next day Bob walked into the first, tiny, Kitepower shop on Latrobe Terrace. I was going though some tough personal issues at the time and desperately needed a mate to talk to, I did not know it right then but he had just walked into my life. We somehow just clicked together and after about 30 mins of conversation and some imparting of sage advice Bob left. I remember feeling so relieved and quite stunned and got up to run out and try to say thanks but he was nowhere to be seen, Bob was like that, finish one thing, onto the next and he did not walk slowly or without purpose.

I continued to sell Bobs sport kites and continued to deal with my personal issues, however they had a heavy toll on my relationship with my best mate and wife. We had an enormous row one night and decided to split up, I went to work the next morning to find a fax from Bob Dawson asking if anyone wanted to buy this kite shop he had in Qld. The fax looked like it had been sent to all the main kite shops in Australia, and I presumed that to be the case for well over 10 years. Bob only told me a few years ago that he only sent the fax to Kitepower Geelong!! Juls had confided in him and he knew I need a shoulder to lean on. I called him that morning and he assured me everything would be ok and that maybe I should just come to Qld with my half of my life (literally my share of the kiteshop stock my clothes and my son Peace). It was another sad day leaving Juls and there were many tears and hugs on the long drive North to Queensland with about $900 to get us there.

Once we arrived Bob let us stay with him in a unit he was renting. The "shop", was located at the Wharf in Moololaba on the Sunshine Coast. It had been run by a guy that had gone broke owing Bob and another friend from Windspeed Kites, Chris Robson, a bit of money.

I worked at the shop with Bob over the next 5 days and we discussed buying the shop. I had no money, just a few hundred dollars and some kites, but Bob convinced Chris to work out a price and deal that I could afford and they offered me a deal that would allow me repay them under a vendor finance arrangement over 2 years. This all happened over days 4 and 5, we began a stocktake of the business on day six. Bob paid the rent on the unit we were sharing for another 2 weeks and we went to work to finish the stocktake and finalise the sale of the business. I assumed that he would get a solicitor and the formal part of the sale would begin to drag on. Around 2pm after we had lunch Bob just said to me "that's it Steve, I'm going home, Shelley's missing me, repairs and orders for kites are piling up, I've gotta go" I protested that we had not finished the deal to sell me the shop, I was thinking all sorts of complicated scenarios (like that I would miss out on the shop), and Bob just looked at me and said "no mate its yours we will work out the rest by phone" I said "but, but, what about the days takings and and, and", he just said "its yours now, you can have that too" and walked out with a few sheets of paper containing the un-totaled stock sheets, and drove back to Coffs.

I called that shop Kite Legends, because Bob Dawson is a Kite Legend.

Needless to say Peace and I worked hard and had heaps of fun and paid Bob and Chris back well before the agreed time. The price they agreed to sell the shop to me for was quite low and they heavily discounted a lot of the older stock too, but it was still about 30 grand that I did not have. Peace broke his arm twice while we were working at the shop. I decided I needed a partner or help in the shop and so I sold half the shop to a partner, the half share I sold was nearly 50% more than what I paid for the whole shop. The shop was booming, and Juls and I were drawn back together by our love for each other and our sons broken bones and my apparent irresponsible parenting! Juls moved up to Qld and we were a family again. However my partner  in the shop and I had begun to have some different opinions on how to run the business, it was looking like we would split. We both wanted to stay in Moololaba and buy the other out. Negotiations were a bit tense, but in the end he made me an offer that I decided to accept. Literally straight after we shook hands Mike Richards from Kite Magic, who owned the KiteSite shop in Coogee, Sydney, called on my mobile.

I took the call outside and he asked me if I knew anyone that would be interested in buying his shop in Coogee! I was hearing the "Twilight Zone" music. Bob Dawson had suggested to Mike that he should call me, although I did not know that at the time either. I said I might be interested and that we would be driving through Sydney in a couple of weeks on the way back to Geelong and we would stop and have a look and a meeting with Mike and Rosie Richards. Needless to say we purchased that shop too, and due to Bob's advice to Mike and Rosie we were given vendor terms again. The rest is history.

Kitepower Australia simply would not be, without the help and Friendship of Bob Dawson.

Bob Dawson - Mate, I'm going to miss you and when I feel the wind I will remember you.

Some of Bobs nearest and dearest kite friends, on hearing of his passing, said.

Phil McConachie - Oh no, oh no, Steve, wow that's going to leave a big hole in the sky.

Neil Taylor - Please send it (this tribute) Steve. I will enjoy it once I can stop fucking crying.

Alison Neville - wow I always called Bob "Dad" at kite festivals when I saw him because he was just like a dad, he will be missed.

Ray Bethel - The news of Bobs death really breaks my heart, I loved that guy we shared so many happy times together in the kiting world, especially the great times we had together at the World cup in Long Beach USA also many times in OZ, he was an out standing person in every way, he was always there for me. Life is just a storage of memories good and bad , my memories of Bob will always be kept alive. Bob had that wonderful grin and his whole face would light up.

Warren Macintosh - I always imagined and thought we would just get old and go crazy together.

Fiona Grubb - (I had previously emailed her and said that I would be flying his D-wing at Conulla today and hoped I didn't kill anyone because I was crying) I can't think of a better tribute to Bob than taking someone's eye out with a pointy kite.

Fiona also said - he was incredibly astute and so caring about other people. I said to Toby (Fiona's partner) last night that he was one of the most inspirational people I've ever known, and I couldn't really explain why other than to say that he really had his shit together - in every sense. He had this incredible way of living life that was just so clear when you spent any time with him. I drove up to the wave nats with him a few years ago with Bob and Lachy and we all spent the week laughing at one another, he was just so bloody funny.

Julie Nagorcka - In coming to terms with our crazy lives and inevitable deaths, Bob and I shared the treasure of finding our spiritual teachers , who , even after their own recent and sudden, respective passing, gave us everything we need to move on, in and beyond this wonder of life.

I love you Bob.

Kevin and Linda Sanders - Deepest sympathies. This is the first time such news has hit me with a feeling of "That can't be possible". I don't need to tell you how well liked Bob was by everyone he treated as a friend. Bondi, Semaphore, Coolum and so many other places will never be the same again.

Jon Ashmore - RIP Bob, we will all miss you and remember you always. Your kites will brighten the sky forever and remind us of the Australian Kite Legend you are. CYA mate.

Lachlan Beed - Devastating news. Myself, and many others will miss Bob terribly. He touched everyone's lives with his special brand of humanity. He was inspirational to me and many others I am sure. I will miss our chats and good times together. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

Mike Walker - Oh no.  That's very sad news Steve.  What a legend he was Bob was an inspiration to me also.  Early on in my kiting he was there and helped me into the sport with passion and enthusiasm that infected me heavily.   The following years he was always happy to see me and encourage me on my adventures through life and kiting.  He always had a bed if needed when I was travelling the coast and always wanted to help where he could.  He exemplified and clarified for me many of the ways I want to live my life.

He lived life to the full with a smile always.

Dave Chaplin - what a champion Bob was we should live like him; every day to the fullest and with positivity and respect.  You don't know when your time is up so make the most of it.

Ben Wilson - Don't know if you know, but I pretty much spent the first year of my kiting life riding with him everyday, so that hold's a special place in my heart. He is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. 

Elwyn and Peter Lynn - Just
want to thank you for keeping us informed about the sad news of Bob.  It
was quite a shock!  

We are thinking of you, and
all Bob's many family and friends, and regretting that we have lost a friend we
all enjoyed catching up with, and discussing technical kiting stuff
with, or competing on the grandchildren stakes,  (not much of a
competition there, Bob was winning hands down!!) 

He sure will be missed!

Terry Chatfield - Bob has been an inspiration to me, he will be forever missed .. I'm sure he will be up there telling the angels how to arrange their feathers  to get better lift. 

Mike Ando - A very sad day for all who knew him. Everytime I had the pleasure of his company, either kiting with him or hanging out in his kite loft hassling him to repair something super-urgently, chatting away, I would be suprised to learn of another talent that Bob was passionate about. He was a great guitarist, yoga teacher, builder/inventor, and eternal optimist. Those that were lucky enough to know him better than me would probably have a huge list of his
accomplishments.

I hope to be as fit, resilient, energetic, mentally sharp, and as fearless when I reach my 60's.

Thank you for keeping me
inspired.

Warm and windy wherever
your kiting Bob, see ya.

Darren Marshall - I'm very sad about this shocking news.
I met Bob when he was still flying huge Delta frame kites in the water on a surfboard. Gutsy stuff and his passion for the sport was evident way back even then.  A Pioneer, good bloke, kind, and a kite sporting legend in Australia.  Sadly missed. Rest peacefully mate! To his close friends and family, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Alex Taskov - Sad news and a legend in kites. I remember buying one of his Delta kites in the late 90's to learn about kiting and was blown away by how much power a kite could develop. He was very helpful and one of the leaders.
R.I.P.

Dave McIntyre - Bob will be sorely missed in the kitesurfing community. My memory of him is of a wicked smile, inventive attitude and a passion for kites that was unquenchable.
RIP Bob and I hope there is clean wind where you are now.

Katrina Ratcliffe - This has shattered my day reading about Bob Dawson. RIP and now I know I have Bob as my
angel every time I kite.

Alex Lewis-Hughes - Terrible news. If you were a part of kiteboarding in Australia in the earlier days you would
have known Bob as a true pioneer and legend in his own right! I'm sure Bob will be sadly missed by quite a lot of people. I never knew Bob really well but what I did know is he seemed like a top bloke!

Hope your shredding waves or riding high doing whatever it is you like doing
best. 

RIP mate.

Glenn "Lotofwind" - He will be sadly missed here in Coffs.

Most of the crew here where either taught to kite by Bob, had repairs done by him, or kited with him. In my eyes kiting would have hardly existed here without him.  Bob was an inspiration to a lot of us here, a legend.
Anyone that has had the pleasure to have met Bob will understand. Best wishes to his family through this tough time. RIP Bob.

Dr Evil from "Seabreeze.com.au" - I only met Bob twice, through Lach and Frank, and he and his awesome reputation
set a benchmark for me from that moment....to be happy and fit and loving his kiting at his age. If I can achieve what he had , I will be truly stoked.   Bob has so many admirers....I just hope he knows that somehow.

Phil Jones from the "arcsrule" forum. Obviously being from the US, I've never met Bob.  But I actually did know him through his many post over on the forum.  He was an outstanding and genuine man. His devotion to the PL kites of the day no doubt made them what they are now.  His mods certainly improved my fun for sure! Please convey to his family my condolences.  I regret not being able to meet this fine man in person. I'm sure he will be missed not only by his family but all over the globe where ARCS fly.

If you'd like to send any messages to Bobs family, contact them at mail@lekite.com.au