In memory

Robert Graham Watts (1946–2020)

Jeff Thomas (1962)

The Carey community recently lost one of its major contributors and favourite sons in Robert Graham Watts (1963).

Rob was a student at Carey and left in 1963, having come to Victoria from Adelaide as a child with his parents. Rob’s sons, Daniel, Adam and Simon, are all also past Carey students.

Rob was a most accomplished sportsman. At school, he was a member of the Carey First XI Cricket Team and after school continued his love of cricket with the North Balwyn Cricket Club. He also played with and coached the North Balwyn Baseball Club, holding senior positions with both clubs.

After leaving Carey, Rob trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant and subsequently graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Master of Business Administration. He became a highly respected partner at Deloitte and, after leaving to pursue a private business opportunity, ultimately ended his working career as Chief Operations Officer, Asian Region, for the international reinsurer SWISS RE. This saw Rob travel the world regularly and he was based at different times in Singapore and Hong Kong.

During the Millikan years at Carey, a period that saw great development and improvement in the School, Rob played an integral role as Treasurer of the School Board. His wise counsel was highly respected.

Both the Carey Board and the Old Carey Grammarians Association recognised his contributions to the School by making him an Honoured Life Member of both organisations.

Rob Watts is survived by his wife Christine, their three sons and four grandchildren. He is fondly remembered, respected and sadly missed by many.