INSPIRING OLD GRAMMARIAN

Robert Johanson understands the transformational power of education.

A particular experience that illustrates this stands out for Robert. He gave the graduation speech at a Melbourne University ceremony in 2019. Graduating that day with a Master's degree in Computer Science, was a young man who came from the slums in Delhi.

He was the first person from those slums ever to go overseas to do post graduate study. The event was live streamed in Delhi and watched by hundreds of people, including many children.

Robert pictured with children in India as part of his work with The Australian Friends of Asha. With the considerable increase of COVID-19 cases in India, The Australian Friends of Asha are helping by providing support everywhere they can. To find out more about their work or to donate, please visit : australianfriendsofashaslums.org.au

Robert pictured middle row, fourth from right with Prefects and Probationers from 1968

Rear: R. J. Allen, G.I. Millar, G. N. Clarke, R. L. Stapleton, D. J. B. Vanston, R. A. Grigg, C. J. Walpole, S. J. Shield. Middle: B. J. Minchinton, G. N. Kilpatrick, A. M. Boxall, C. K. L. Stagg, P. J. Porter, R. N. Johanson, G. B. Rayner, E. D. G. Cracknall, R. O. Devine. Front: M. J. Scarlett, I. G. Taylor, R. R. Tunbridge, A. W. Heinz, G. F. J. Dart Esq., L. M. Nuttall, E. H. Gray, R. E. Dow, A. C. Liesfield

ROBERT JOHANSON AO (1968)

“It showed those young people what’s possible. It was very powerful. I’m told attendance at school and applications to university have all increased considerably.”

Robert’s interest and involvement in education and promoting Australia-India relations come together through his work as Chairman of the Australia India Institute at Delhi and Chairman of Australian Friends of Asha for Slums.

He first became involved with Asha – an organisation that aims to transform the lives of slum dwellers by tackling the issues that keep them in poverty – when he met its Founder and Director Dr Kiran Martin. The Australian Friends of Asha now raise money for the organisation with a focus on education and scholarships.

Robert says education is the best way of opening up opportunities and possibilities for the children who are born and raised in the slums.

“Most of the slum dwellers come to the cities to flee hunger and miserable lives in the villages. From the lower castes, they are often illiterate and work as day labourers. Education gives their children a chance at getting away from that life.” As a result of the work being done by Asha, Robert says more of these children are staying in school and even attending university. There are now three who have come to Australia to study advanced degrees.

“Within the context of the rigidities of social structures in India, this is astonishing.”

He says that with an increasing focus on the need to nurture diverse relationships across the world and especially within Asia, the Australia India Institute plays an important role.

“India is one of the biggest economies of the world. Our work strengthening relations between the two countries includes facilitating dialogue to encourage exchange. It’s fascinating being involved in this.”

Robert has experienced the power of educational opportunities first-hand. He started at Ballarat Grammar in what we now call Year 8 and says the only reason he attended was because he h ad won a scholarship.

“Being able to attend a school like this has meant so much to me.”

He describes the School as very different then.

“It was all boys of course, and a lot smaller than it is now. We were very close. I think I knew everybody.”

Robert says being part of a small tight-knit community opened up possibilities for him. “There were lots of different things going on and we all had to just get on with it. Everyone had to play cricket and footy so the School could field teams and it meant a wide range of kids got involved in things like the school play. We also did lots of service activities, like collecting money for various causes around Wendouree.”

Robert recalls several occasions in Michael Boyle’s English class that had a big influence on him.

“I remember reading Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in one of our first classes, and Michael reading Great Expectations to us. I’d never been exposed to things like that.”

The first in his family to attend university, Robert says the time when he was taken to Melbourne University to represent the School in a Latin reading competition had a lasting impact.

“I have always been very grateful for the many opportunities that going to Grammar gave me.”

Robert studied Law and Arts at The University of Melbourne and an MBA at Harvard. He served on the Board of the Bendigo Bank for 31 years including 13 years as Chair, was Deputy Chancellor of Melbourne University and Director of the Robert Salzer Foundation. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2021 for distinguished service to the banking sector, to Australia-India relations and to tertiary education governance and financial administration.