by Rosemary Sceats
(photo of Bob at the 2002 Australian Skeptics Convention in Melbourne courtesy of Mal Vickers)
The Victorian Skeptics recently received some sad news about the death in February this year of Bob Nixon, a long-time member, including of the management committee. He served for a time as President of the Victorian Skeptics.
Bob was the Chief Investigator for Australian Skeptics for many years, and acted as a sceptical mentor for many a rookie Skeptic, including yours truly and Terry Kelly.
During his time as Chief Investigator, Bob was the coordinator of several attempts by people hoping to win the $100,000 prize money for the Australian Skeptics’ Challenge, by demonstrating psychic or other paranormal powers. Contestants included several dowsers and one who believed he could transmit mental images of Zener cards. He was also one of the behind-the-scenes underwriters who pledged to pay up in the improbable event that someone succeeded in qualifying for the prize.
Stemming from his role as an investigator of claimed paranormal or psychic powers, Bob developed an abiding interest in stage magic, and built up an impressive library of books on the subject.
Bob was interested in getting inside the heads of dowsers, and in pursuit of this aim, he joined the Dowsing Society of Victoria, while acknowledging the fact that he was a card-carrying sceptic and member of Victorian Skeptics. The dowsers even invited him onto their committee, an offer which he happily accepted.
He was an occasional contributor to “The Skeptic” magazine. Many longstanding members would remember him well.
Bob was known to be suffering from health problems for several years leading up to his death, including type 2 diabetes. His cause of death was certified as “rampant untreated diabetes”. Sadly, it seems that he didn’t take care of himself in recent times.
Bob in Action (Thanks to Richard Saunders)