Richard Fidler

Where were you, Blue, when you learned that he had died?

What was going through your head and heart as you were standing there at his graveside?

You'd already made this step away into the career as a butler.

Tell me about Butler School.

What did you learn there?

It seems like the term butler, I guess, I don't know if it's to Australian ears, it feels like something from a very different era.

I mean, what's the role look like in this day and age?

Was your year with Nureyev good training for that kind of work?

I can't imagine you had many clients as memorable as Rudolf Murayov, though.

He must have been one of a kind.

And hopefully you weren't punched or prodded in the same way by your other employers.

How on earth did you end up in Australia, Blue?

Do you think your time with Nureyev, I don't know, encouraged you to be able to make split decisions, follow your heart like that?

So where's home for you these days, Blue?

Do you still ever do any of those dance steps that Nureyev taught you?

Blue, what a wonderful story.

Thank you so much for being my guest on Conversations.

Simon Blue Robinson was my guest on Conversations today.

This conversation was produced by Meggie Morris and recorded on the lands of the Turrbal and Yagera peoples.

Our executive producer is Eliza Kirsch.