LIPSCOMBE, Robyn Leslie
Heart of Gold
The sudden and devastating death of a much-loved Ballarat woman with a "heart of gold" has left a hole that will never be filled.
Robyn Lipscombe, 71, was driving home after buying some groceries at about 11.50 a.m. on the 20th of May 2021.
She was pulling out of Arthur Street onto Learmonth Street when a man driving a black Holden Commodore sedan allegedly collided with her grey Mazda.
Though her heartbroken family wants her to be remembered for the person she was during her life - a beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunty, nanna, friend, and neighbor. Many words have been used to describe the incredible person Robyn was and how cherished she was by all who knew her.
Her family describes her as having a very caring nature and as being warm, kind, and gentle.
Robyn was the firstborn twin to Mavis and Edwin Skippage on March 25, 1950. Her identical twin, Jennifer, was born 15 minutes later. Along with their older sister Elizabeth, the twins enjoyed a happy childhood growing up in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Iris. After leaving school, Robyn attended business college before entering the workforce as a private secretary.
In 1969 Robyn attended a dance at Albert Park Lake, where she was swept off her feet after meeting the love of her life, Stephen for the first time. The couple married in 1973 and went on to purchase a home in Forest Hill before their first child Scott was born. Stephen's job as a bank manager then took the family to western Victoria. It saw the family relocate to Ararat and then Heywood, with a second child Kate born in 1983.
During the years afterward, Stephen's job took the family to Swan Hill, Manangatang, Warracknabeal, and Portland. While the young family had moved frequently, Robyn always took care to make every house they lived in a home.
About twenty years ago they moved to Stephen's hometown of Ballarat, where they lived ever since.
A bright, friendly, and approachable person with a 'beautiful smile' and contagious laugh, Robyn was known to spark conversations with strangers and easily formed connections and friendships - even in the smallest and most remote of towns.
While she had worked in various accounting firms throughout her career, after Scott's birth she dedicated herself to her newfound role as a mother.
She volunteered her time at her children's schools - helping in classrooms and with reading recovery programs, baking for cake stalls, sitting through parents' meetings, and as the head of the Mothers' Day craft stall, around which time the house would be covered in projects she was creating - and ferried the two around to extracurricular activities.
While living in Manangatang Robyn began playing golf, a hobby she continued to enjoy after moving to Ballarat. Aside from the sport, she also enjoyed the social side. Robyn was also a valued member of Probus.
With such varied community involvement, Robyn developed a vast network of friends from a cross-section of places throughout her life. She remained in regular contact with many of these friends, even those who lived hours away, by writing cards and letters and with telephone calls.
She was also a very compassionate and considerate person. Robyn genuinely cared about other people and would selflessly take it upon herself to help others. Her cooking skills were most valued by her family and friends. Her baked treats, lasagnas, roasts, and Christmas lunches frequently brought her family and friends together with love and laughter. She would never hesitate to help a friend or family member in need
Robyn enjoyed sharing her skills in the kitchen during 'nanna days' with her grandchildren, as well as taking them on special outings for lunch, to the park, or to the movies. Reading stories with Nanna was also a highlight.
Always in each other's company, the pair grew to learn what the other was thinking during their decades together. They shared a wonderful partnership, learned from each other, relaxed on holidays both in Australia and abroad, and shared countless precious memories.
Their personalities truly complemented each other and their deep love was evident to all who knew them.
"We had a lovely relationship. I was very fortunate," Stephen said.
Whether a moment to be celebrated or a hurdle to overcome, Robyn always reminded her family to care for each other and hold each other close.
Highview Gardens Row 23 Grave 17
