- Author
- John Jeremy, AM Vice President NHSA
- Subjects
- Biographies and personal histories, Obituaries
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- June 2024 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
By John Jeremy AM
This fine tribute was first published in The Navy, April-June 2024, and is reproduced by kind permission of the editor of that publication.
On 7 February 2024 a dedicated supporter of the Navy League of Australia and the Royal Australian Navy, Robert Otto Albert, passed away at the age of 89. Robert, or Otto as he was known to many, was born on 14 December 1934 to Alexis Albert (later Sir Alexis) and his wife Elsa. Robert’s mother was Swedish, a link surviving today. Two brothers followed. Ted and Tony both predeceased Robert in 1990 and 1999.
Robert did not immediately join the family music and entertainment company, Alberts, but studied law at the University of Sydney before joining the Sydney law firm Allen, Allen and Hemsley. In 1965 he joined the Board of the Alberts’ holding company, Albert Investments. On the death of his father in 1996 he became chair of the company.
Robert Albert was a generous supporter of many worthy causes including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the University of Sydney, the Sydney Dance Company, Mission Australia, the Sydney Children’s Hospital and Taronga Zoo to name but a few. The Australian Ballet also benefitted from Robert’s philanthropy and he served on the Ballet’s board for 25 years.
In addition to his business interests, Robert found time to serve in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve from 1955 to 1977, retiring as Commander RANR. He was awarded the Reserve Decoration (RD) and Reserve Forces Decoration (RFD) in recognition of his naval service.
Robert loved the sea and sailing and was a very active member of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, in later years sailing his yacht Norn in the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron/Sydney Amateur Sailing Club Combined Half Ton Division – later the RSYS Division 3. Robert served on the RSYS General Committee from 1984 to 1990 and chaired the Election Committee for many years. He was made a life member of the Squadron in 2021.
His maritime interests extended to the Sydney Heritage Fleet, of which he was Patron for many years and a very generous donor, providing many millions of dollars towards the Fleet’s restoration and operation of historic vessels, including the Albert family’s schooner Boomerang which was donated to the Fleet. The Fleet’s magnificently restored barque James Craig would not exist today but for the generous contribution of Robert Albert to the restoration cost.
Robert retained his contact with the naval world through his membership of the Navy League of Australia. For decades he was the President of the NSW Division of the League, presiding over an executive comprising members from the navy, merchant marine, shipbuilding and other backgrounds. The management of the NSW Division was largely in the generous hands of Albert Investments, with Robert’s long-standing assistant, Liz Sykes, keeping everything on course until her quite recent death, a major blow to Robert. Through the NSW Division, Robert provided financial support for the Navy League’s quarterly journal The Navy, ensuring that it was available to members and the general public at a modest cost. He also generously supported Malcolm Longstaff who took on the considerable task of writing the history of the Navy League of Australia. Keeping Watch: A History of the Navy League of Australia 1895–2015 was published by the League in 2016.
Robert was also a member of the Navy League’s Federal Council, and his contributions to the discussion at annual meetings were insightful, often direct, but also wise and entertaining. His absence from the Council will be greatly felt by the League.
Robert had a way of getting things done which was usually very effective. A request from Robert, or suggestion that one might take on a certain task, was not optional, more a direction. Such suggestions were usually followed without delay and in very good spirit.
Robert Otto Albert was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1993 for services to the community and was promoted to Officer in the Order (AO) in 2001 in recognition of his philanthropic support of charitable, cultural and educational institutions.
Robert is survived by Libby, his wife of 55 years, his son David and daughters Kirsty and Jane, and their children.
On 27 February, some 450 people gathered together at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron to celebrate the life of Robert Otto Albert. It was an impressive and fitting tribute to a man so widely loved, admired and respected. He will be greatly missed.