When the Nazis came to power in Germany, a young couple named Rotholz, with their little son, fled from Berlin, and reached Amsterdam, where they settled. But the imminent outbreak of war in 1939 forced them to move on, and, finding that they were unable to migrate to America, they decided to make the long journey to Australia.

And so Bob Rotholz, aged 11, came to this country.

Australia was a very different world. The family changed their name to ‘Rothols’. Bob found himself at a private boys’ school, knowing little English and an object of curiosity to his classmates who had never before encountered a ‘foreigner’. But thanks to a generous and understanding English teacher, Bob soon mastered the language and gradually became ‘Australianised’.

From this, Bob quickly became enamored with the music of Gilbert & Sullivan, and particularly Mozart, with whom he shares a birthday (27th January).

After a long career in the Department of Agriculture, Bob became a volunteer at 3MBS Fine Music Melbourne, first going to air in 1984.

Several aspects of Bob’s work at 3MBS stand out: He has scripted and presented some memorable series of programs, including one of the writings of George Bernard Shaw as music critic, and another on Mozart’s letters to his father, ‘My Very Dear Father’, which won an award from the Public Broadcasting Authority of Australia for ‘Best Music Program’ in 1992.

In 2012, Bob retired from presenting live-to-air on 3MBS, but was awarded Emeritus status from an appreciative volunteer and staff base, who considered his services too valuable to lose entirely. He continues to support 3MBS in many capacities, including at the Beethoven Marathon at The Edge in March 2013.