Bob Hillman
HILLMAN, Robert Merry (Bob), AO BE Hon FIEAust FTSE MAWWA (1920-2010)
The son of engineer A J Hillman and Helene Elizabeth Hillman, nee Merry, he was born at Guildford on May 15, 1920. He was educated at Guildford Grammar School. Hillman then studied Engineering at the University of Western Australia (BE 1942) and served with the Royal Australian Engineers between 1942 and 1946. He served in the South West Pacific, New Guinea, New Britain and Bougainville spending 736 Days overseas. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant.
In 1946, he married Lesley Russell Dumas and they had three sons, Jonathan, David and Michael.
After joining the Public Works Department in 1946 and subsequently becoming Principal Assistant for Construction under Kenworthy in 1960, he became Chief Engineer of the Metropolitan Water Supply Sewerage and Drainage Board when this was formed in 1964. He became Director of Engineering in the Public Works Department in l972, and Chairman of the newly constituted Water Authority in l984.
Much of his work involved developing the rapidly expanding north of the State and he had a good working relationship with Sir Charles Court.
He was also a Member of the Perth Metropolitan Planning Authority, the State Planning Authority, the Conservation and Environment Council of WA and the WA State Committee of CSIRO.
After being elected an Associate Member of the Institution of Engineers Australia in 1947 and Member in 1960, he was Chairman of the Western Australian Division of this institution in 1970. By 1979 he became a Fellow. He was then made an Honorary Fellow in 1983.
He had a long association with the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). He was made an ATSE Fellow in 1987, served on the ATSE WA Division as Chair (1991-1994) and was a Member of the ATSE National Council.
He was also Chancellor of Murdoch University and Chairman of the WA Water Resources Council. He was a Member of the Australian Water and Waste Water Association.
In June 1986, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for public service, particularly in the field of engineering.
His published papers include The Serpentine Project - Perth Supplies, JIEA (30) 1958, p. 251.
Robert Hillman died at Dalkeith October 25, 2010. He was survived by his wife and their three sons.
References:
Margaret A Sacks, Editor, The WAY 79 Who is Who, Crawley Publishers, Nedlands, 1980.
ATSE Focus 166, April 2011, p. 49.
Public Service Lists, 1947, 1965, 1982.
Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Department, Subiaco Sewage Treatment Works, Perth 1963.
First Report of the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Board – 1965.
WWA 1983, p. 413; 1991 p. 584.
LPB p. 589.
HAIEA.
