Friday 20 April 2001 marks the centenary of the birth of Sir Robert Risson. Sir Robert was Chairman of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board from 1949 to 1970 and Executive Director of the Metropolitan Transportation Committee from 1970 to 1978.
Sir Robert exercised considerable influence upon public transport policy during these years in particular the retention of Melbourne's trams in preference to their replacement by bus services.
In order to mark the event the Faculty of Business and the Transport Research Centre have organised a lecture to be held at Storey Hall, 324 - 348 Swanston Street from 4.00 to 6.00 p.m.
All RMIT staff are most welcome. For further information AND bookings please contact Graeme Turnbull, tel. 9925 5473 OR Joanne Holmes, tel. 9925 1328.
Among many other things, Sir Robert was:
He would attend mess dinners at the Swan Street engineer depot and, at the end of the evening, hop on a Burwood tram to his home, dressed in his scarlet mess uniform. It is said that tram drivers would prefer not to be on that route on those evenings, because Sir Robert was apparently very observant and aware of every policy and rule. He apparently would sit behind the driver and watch his every move.
Melbourne owes its trams to Sir Robert. He said something along the lines of, 'we will cement the rails in so they can never take the trams away.'
Static displays of the following connections with Sir Robert will be made: