Robyn FRANCIS Obituary

FRANCIS, Robyn Ann (Raff). Born a late summer morning, on the 2nd March 1948. The only child of Bob and Mae, and the apple of her father's eye. He taught her to play golf averagely well, drive a car very well and drink spirits neat (a life lesson that didn't need repeating). Saturday was race day as father and daughter would wager on maiden or mare. After leaving school, Raff embarked on a series of professional career choices with varying degrees of enthusiasm - including school dental nurse, governess, and in later years, CEO. By far her proudest achievement was being given the job title "Nonna" to her beloved only granddaughter Sophie ("My Girl"). She could play the piano, hold a hand at bridge, whip up a wicked carrot cake and expertly catch snapper on a long line. Sophisticated and funny, she was the life of the party and loved nothing more than an excuse to dress up. A frequent and enthusiastic traveller, Raff toured world - from living on a logging camp in the Papua New Guinea jungle to truffle hunting with pigs in the forests of Italy. She spent her final months having relocated with her family to the scorching desert of Dubai. Robyn had a keen interest in sport - as a swimmer, she spent her formative years staring at the long black line along the bottom of the Parnell Baths. She also learnt to sail, and as a sexagenarian, took up ballroom dancing with the vigour of a woman decades younger. Raff married and then outlived her husband Alton Scott. In between, she was blessed with an only daughter, Anna, who told her frequently she was the greatest mother a child could have wished for. Her son-in- law Simon shared with her a love of F1, cricket and gardening. Generous of spirit, gracious with praise and sardonic right to the end, Robyn was an avid collector of friends. Thank you to all who rallied around Raff in her final weeks, as she debated whether to continue arguing with her aggressive cancer. Eventually, on Monday 28th July 2025, they agreed to disagree. Robyn was 77. A private farewell party will be held to honour Raff's passing. We wish we had more time with such a remarkable woman, she is already so terribly missed.