Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Robson, Hediger
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 7/16/2008
From one Continent to Another (Robson – 2008)
By Peter Spicer
Australia native Ray Robson weathered a 15-hour flight for a week-long vacation to North America,
where he adjusted to many cultural differences.
During his trip, Robson spent a week in Neillsville visiting longtime friend Herman Hediger, whom he met at a 1978, trucking convention held in Washington, D.C.
Since then, Robson has visited the United States four times. His latest trip included stops in Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV, and Canada. While Robson is enjoying a Wisconsin summer, his fellow Australians are in the midst of the winter season. When summer rolls around in Australia, the average daily temperature is over 90 degrees, said Robson.
Robson resides in Gympie, a town of over 3,000 residents in Queensland, one of Australia’s six states.
Despite previous visits to the United States, American culture is still a bit of a shock to Robson.
“There’s nothing the same,” said Robson, who semi-retired from the construction industry.
Driving on the right side of the road was an adjustment for Robson, who said diet, household appliances and phone systems are different in America – even toilet water swirls the opposite direction in the United States.
In Australia, Robson enjoys the country’s favorite meals – bacon and eggs at breakfast and T-bone steaks, barbeques and mixed grills, which includes liver, at dinner.
One cultural similarity, however, is the currency value, which is becoming increasingly similar between the two countries because of the weak U.S. economy.
The Australian dollar was worth approximately half the value of the American dollar in 2003, said Robson. It is now worth 96 cents, almost as much as the U.S. dollar. Peter Spicer/Clark County Press
(Above) Australia native Ray Robson enjoyed a weeklong visit to Neillsville and took time to show off colorful Australian currency – 10-, 20,- 50- and 100 dollar bills. Each Australian dollar is worth 4 cents less than an American dollar.
Australia converted to the American dollar system in 1967 from the English monetary system, which includes schillings and pence.
Many countries rely on Australia’s exports, which include a vast supply of uranium, coal and iron ore, said Robson.
Despite Australia’s exports, Robson described Australia as the “dumping ground of the world.”
When America has an overabundance of a product no longer needed, wanted or safe, Australia may receive those products, including pharmaceuticals. Because of the large distance between the two countries and less technology, Australia does not pay as much attention to what’s popular in the United States as other countries do, said Robson.
Australia’s technology is not as up-to-date as other countries’ technology is, said Robson, who added his country doesn’t have as many computers as Americans do.
“Not everyone has one,” said Robson, who added most Australians who own computers have dial-up Internet, not high-speed.
Australia’s crime rate is higher than America’s, said Robson. “The crime is very bad now,” said Robson.
Poor school discipline, large numbers of people drinking and doing drugs and a soft criminal justice system contribute to the problem, which is growing worse, said Robson, who added underage drinking is a major problem.
Despite those concerns, Robson enjoys talking about Australia’s sandy beaches and its beautiful landscape.
Ehen Robson returns to Australia, he will reacclimate himself to Australia’s winter season and hopes to remember which side of the road to drive on.
