Farewell Robert Matthews aka Robbie

A founding member of the CMPA and having worked in the quarry industry for decades, Robbie’s motto was ‘bigger is better’. His passion was quarries and this is where he spent most of his time.

More than 700 people came to bid farewell to Robbie who passed away on 2 September 2025. On 11 September friends and family gathered at Matthews Quarries, forming a guard of honour.

It all started on 24 August 1952, when Butch and Val Matthews welcomed their first child in Traralgon; Robbie was the eldest of five children and big brother to Lyn, Steven, Graeme and Sharyn.

By the time he was nine months old, he was already mobile and at 11 months, was discovered on top of the fridge devouring an apple.

Growing up, there were many instances where he got up to mischief – when his dad was driving a tip-truck, full of tools along the main road in Traralgon, Robbie lifted the hoist and tools went flying – and the time he let a shotgun off, under the seat, while his pregnant mother was driving.

Robbie started his first job at Graydens, working on mowers and small engines, before moving to Cattanach’s Welding, where he became well respected in the farming community and spent many hours fixing hay balers.

His first major project with his dad was building a steel boat from scratch, which would be a backyard feature for many years to come.

Later Robbie bought a truck – the white and red Volvo, and worked at Loy Yang for Traralgon Shire, APM Forestry, and various other sites.

Soon the family trilogy began with Robbie, Dad Butch and Graeme, pegging out the Boola camp site, now known as K&RJ Matthews Quarries. Together they purchased a mobile crusher, excavator and loader and as the business grew, more machinery, a new concrete Adgie, truck and trailer.

Robbie and Graeme together purchased a sandpit, now LV Sands. Robbie and his father formally opened The Tyers Quarry – WA318. He also had another pit at Hazlewood North – WA317, a casual operation.

With an equal partnership in Latrobe Vally Sand which operates WA171, WA447 and the new site WA1515 (yet to be developed), Robbie also established Latrobe Valley Concrete – the only concrete plant in Traralgon.

Robbie married Glenda, the love of his life in March 2012.

He had a great sense of humour, a sweet tooth and enjoyed a whiskey or beer. A hard but fair man, a handshake from him was his word.

Rest in peace Robbie.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login