Robert Risson

Sir Robert Risson, CB, CBE, DSO, OStJ, ED born 20 April 1901, died 19 July 1992, was soldier and public administrator. He was chairman of the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board from 1949 to 1970.

Sir Robert was born in 1901 at Ma Ma Creek near Grantham in South East Queensland. Educated at nearby Gatton High School and subsequently at Queensland University, he graduated in Civil Engineering before joining the newly formed Brisbane Tramways Trust in 1923.

He joined the Australian Army Engineers (Militia) as a Lieutenant in May 1933 and married Gwendolyn Spurgin in Brisbane in May 1934. He enlisted in the 2nd AIF in October 1939 and saw active service with the Seventh and Ninth Divisions in the Middle East including Tobruk and El Alamein, and with the 1st Australian Corps in New Guinea. He was awarded the DSO and the CBE, and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier in March 1943.