Robert Merrillees: Difference between revisions

Robert Merrillees FAHA
Robert Merrillees FAHA
Born	1938 (age 85–86)
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	University of Sydney (BA); University of London (PhD)
Occupation(s)	Diplomat, archaeologist, author
Spouse	Parvine Helen Merrillees
Children	Antoinette Merrillees, Dolla Merrillees
Parent(s)	Edna Merrillees, John Merrillees

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Robert S. Merrillees (born 1938) is a former Australian diplomat and archaeologist. His memoir Diplomatic Digs was released in 2012 as an e-book.^[1]

Merrillees joined the Australian Public Service in the Department of External Affairs in 1964.^[2]

In the early 1970s, Merrillees, along with his wife and their two daughters, took part in the Columbia University Expedition to Phlamoudhi, Cyprus, led by Edith Porada.^[3] Reminiscing about the two seasons of excavations that the family took part in, Merrillees described the experience as "unforgettable", leaving them with "a sense of achievement, lasting friendships and a nostalgia for times past".^[4]

Merrillees first ambassadorial appointment was in 1983, in Tel Aviv where he was Australian Ambassador to Israel until 1987.^[5]

In February 1990, Merrillees led a team to Cambodia to hold talks with Phnom Penh government officials in preparation for a peace agreement.^[6] The next month Merrillees travelled to Washington, New York, Canada and Paris to continue discussions on a Cambodian settlement.

In October 1991 Merrillees took up an appointment as Australian Ambassador to Sweden; and non-resident Ambassador to Finland.^[7] His appointment lasted until 1995, when he was appointed Australian Ambassador to Greece.^[2] Beginning his posting to Athens in January 1996, Merrillees was recalled early from the role, in 1998, and took early retirement.^[8]

Merrillees was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 1992.^[9]

Family

Merrillees' elder daughter also joined the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and in 2016 was Acting Deputy Ambassador in Berlin.^[10] She is married to the Australian Ambassador to Ankara, James Larsen.^[11]

Merrillees' younger daughter Dolla Merrillees is the Director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory and Museums Discovery Centre in Sydney.^[12]^[13] She is also the author of the book, The Woodcutter's Wife: A Stepmother's Tale, the story of her struggles in becoming a stepmother.

Works

Diplomatic Digs, Echo Books, 2012
Living with Egypt's Past in Australia, Museum of Victoria, 1990, ISBN 9780724196739

References

^ Johnson, Chris (4 August 2012). "Beware of diplomats bearing digs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016.
^ ^a ^b Evans, Gareth (13 October 1995). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Greece" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
^ Smith, Joanna S. (2008), "Bringing Old Excavations to Life", Near Eastern Archaeology
^ The Faces of Phlamoudi: Reviews in the press, a radio interview, and other critical perspectives, archived from the original on 31 July 2016
^ Goodall, Bill (15 May 1985). "Israeli Government 'dedicated to reconciliation'". The Canberra Times. p. 19.
^ "Aust team in Cambodia to study UN peace role". 6 February 1990.
^ "New ambassador". The Canberra Times. 22 September 1991. p. 2.
^ Everingham, Barry (15 August 2005). "Alexander Downer's ousted diplomats". Crikey. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016.
^ Merrillees, Robert, Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques FAHA, Australian Academy of the Humanities, archived from the original on 27 March 2016
^ http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/gsb/Files/Substitute_Representatives/English/AUSTRALIA_Merrillees.pdf
^ http://turkey.embassy.gov.au/anka/AnitkabirvisitLarsen.html
^ Taylor, Andrew (12 April 2016). "Dolla Merrillees appointed director of Powerhouse Museum as Parramatta River site chosen". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016.
^ Merrillees, Dolla (14 November 2015), Go dad!, Twitter

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by David Goss	Australian Ambassador to Israel 1983 – 1987	Succeeded by John Campbell
Preceded by Ian Nicholson	Australian Ambassador to Sweden Australian Ambassador to Finland Australian Ambassador to Estonia 1991 – 1995	Succeeded by Judith Pead
Preceded by Alan Edwards	Australian Ambassador to Greece 1996 – 1998	Succeeded by Ross Burns

[1] Johnson, Chris (4 August 2012). "Beware of diplomats bearing digs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016.

[Greece-2] Evans, Gareth (13 October 1995). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Greece" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.

[3] Smith, Joanna S. (2008), "Bringing Old Excavations to Life", Near Eastern Archaeology

[4] The Faces of Phlamoudi: Reviews in the press, a radio interview, and other critical perspectives, archived from the original on 31 July 2016

[5] Goodall, Bill (15 May 1985). "Israeli Government 'dedicated to reconciliation'". The Canberra Times. p. 19.

[6] "Aust team in Cambodia to study UN peace role". 6 February 1990.

[7] "New ambassador". The Canberra Times. 22 September 1991. p. 2.

[8] Everingham, Barry (15 August 2005). "Alexander Downer's ousted diplomats". Crikey. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016.

[9] Merrillees, Robert, Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques FAHA, Australian Academy of the Humanities, archived from the original on 27 March 2016

[10] ttp://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/gsb/Files/Substitute_Representatives/English/AUSTRALIA_Merrillees.pdf

[11] ttp://turkey.embassy.gov.au/anka/AnitkabirvisitLarsen.html

[12] Taylor, Andrew (12 April 2016). "Dolla Merrillees appointed director of Powerhouse Museum as Parramatta River site chosen". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016.

[13] Merrillees, Dolla (14 November 2015), Go dad!, Twitter

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@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 Merrillees' elder daughter also joined the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and in 2016 was Acting Deputy Ambassador in [[Berlin]].<ref>http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/gsb/Files/Substitute_Representatives/English/AUSTRALIA_Merrillees.pdf</ref>  She is married to the Australian Ambassador to Ankara, James Larsen.<ref>http://turkey.embassy.gov.au/anka/AnitkabirvisitLarsen.html</ref>
-Merrillees' younger daughter Dolla Merrillees is the Director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, [[Powerhouse Museum]], [[Sydney Observatory]] and [[Museums Discovery Centre]] in Sydney.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/dolla-merrillees-appointed-director-of-powerhouse-museum-as-parramatta-river-site-chosen-20160411-go3iy0.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904083651/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/dolla-merrillees-appointed-director-of-powerhouse-museum-as-parramatta-river-site-chosen-20160411-go3iy0.html|archivedate=4 September 2016|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=12 April 2016|title=Dolla Merrillees appointed director of Powerhouse Museum as Parramatta River site chosen|first=Andrew|last=Taylor}}</ref><ref>{{citation|first=Dolla|last=Merrillees|url=https://twitter.com/DMerrillees/status/665665653005639680|title=Go dad!|date=14 November 2015|publisher=Twitter}}</ref>  She is also the author of the book, The Woodcutter's Wife: A Stepmother's Tale, the story of her struggles in becoming a stepmother.
+Merrillees' younger daughter Dolla Merrillees is the Director of the [https://maas.museum/about/ Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences], [[Powerhouse Museum]], [[Sydney Observatory]] and [[Museums Discovery Centre]] in Sydney.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/dolla-merrillees-appointed-director-of-powerhouse-museum-as-parramatta-river-site-chosen-20160411-go3iy0.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904083651/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/dolla-merrillees-appointed-director-of-powerhouse-museum-as-parramatta-river-site-chosen-20160411-go3iy0.html|archivedate=4 September 2016|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=12 April 2016|title=Dolla Merrillees appointed director of Powerhouse Museum as Parramatta River site chosen|first=Andrew|last=Taylor}}</ref><ref>{{citation|first=Dolla|last=Merrillees|url=https://twitter.com/DMerrillees/status/665665653005639680|title=Go dad!|date=14 November 2015|publisher=Twitter}}</ref>  She is also the author of the book, The Woodcutter's Wife: A Stepmother's Tale, the story of her struggles in becoming a stepmother.
 ==Works==