As his partner for the past 12 years, Clare Farrell said, Robbie left an indelible impression on all he came in contact with, a kind, gracious, humble and down-to-earth "man of few words". Those close to the pair immediately recognised them as kindred spirits, soulmates who were virtually inseparable after first meeting through a dating website.
"I sent him a picture of my eyes. He sent me a photo of his legs. One of my prerequisites, he had to be a family man, drink rum and enjoy sport. In 12 years we have never had an argument. It's been an incredible journey." Before the pair met, Robbie had moved to the Far North from Henderson in the mid-90s, and quickly signed on as a member of the Kaeo fire brigade. There, the several firefighters who played local club rugby talked him into going along to the AGM of the Kaeo RFC in 2002. Halfway through the meeting, the siren went and Robbie - who apparently had never been to a game of rugby in his life at that point - answered the call, only to find out the next day he had been elected as the new Kaeo RFC president in his absence.
Only a couple of years after the successful completion of the Lift it Up project, Robbie was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He had his kidney removed on the opening day of the Rugby World Cup, the operation made even more devastating by preventing him from working as an official volunteer at the event. Determined to make the most of their remaining time together, Robbie and Clare decided to buy a motor home, and toured the South Island together in 2013 and last year.
"He was determined [the illness] wasn't going to rule his life," Clare said. But one thing which did rule Robbie's life - and which, in some ways, defined his innate selflessness and determination to be involved with his community - was a virtually unequalled devotion to the 15-man game. Clare recalled how, during one of their South Island sojourns, Robbie had reminded her keep a focus on her "other job" of recording local club rugby results and Far North player registrations.
"We were down there and he asked me, out of the blue, 'Have you done all your rugby stuff?' " Robbie made sure he attended the opening game of the 2015 Bay of Islands Sub Union season, Ohaeawai vs Kaeo, at Ohaeawai on April 11. After the dust had cleared, he determinedly made his way upstairs to enjoy a rum and coke with his old comrades. It ended up being the last club game of local rugby Robbie Ball saw before passing away peacefully in his sleep at home five days later. He left behind two children, his partner Clare and her four children, and a total of seven grandchildren.
A funeral service for Robbie Ball will be held at the Kaeo RFC, Waikoura Domain, this Thursday from 11am.
