Born June 16, 1947. Passed away December 18, 2025.

Of Warrnambool

16/06/1947 – 18/12/2025

Died at Deep Creek, South Australia

Aged 78 years

Husband of Chris

Father and father-in-law of Alice, Zoe and Andrew

RoRo of Zane and Thea

Brother of Sue

*****

Family and friends of ROB are invited to attend a Service at the Eastern Park Chapel, 271 Raglan Parade, Warrnambool on FRIDAY (January 2) commencing at 2.00pm.

Private Cremation

Tributes

1. I remember Boom from Scouts at Scotch, mainly from Elliot Lodge when we were all playing some vigorous indoor game, and I mistakenly assumed I could get past what turned out to be pretty much an immoveable object. I simply bounced off him. Result - broken collar bone for me !!!!

   Scott MacLean

   June 02, 2026 8:54 am

2. It was a privilege to work with Rob in Werribee in the mid 1970's. Rob provided insights and guidance while analysing research data. Rob was always patient with my fumbling computer efforts, and inspirational when at an impass. Rob and Chris were a congenial couple, whose welcome was greatly appreciated. I'm saddened to hear of his passing.

   Chris Hawkins

   January 20, 2026 5:56 pm

3. Thank you Rob for your hand of friendship and advice, here's hoping there are mountains in heaven

   Robyn Park

   January 02, 2026 2:45 pm

4. Rob was one of the most authentic people I have ever known. He was always consistent and humble but had strong principles and beliefs that he adhered to. Rob was a WYSWYG kind of guy. What you saw was what you got with Rob. His strong principles and unbounded interest in the world and people, including politics, the environment and developments made Rob a great person to hold discussions with. Today is a day when we will share in celebrating having known him and grieving at losing him. It will not be the same, knowing that Rob isn’t there.
   I first met Rob when he was my tutor in a first year Statistics class at Melbourne uni that I took as a first year Masters student. Rob looked at me with his inimitable grin and gave the impression that he was enjoying a private joke. Subsequently, I discovered that he probably was when Chris, at that time my office mate, brought him along to a work Christmas party as her partner. After that, Chris, Rob and I shared an office for a while before we all moved into different surroundings but still worked together.
   Rob’s computing and statistical prowess were intimidating, at least for me. I’m sure that it was his tutoring and not my natural ability that enabled me to pass my stats class. Subsequently when he was advising me about statistical matters related to my research I would have to get him to descend to my level of understanding and insert the 5 or 6 steps in a statistical process that he just knew, but I needed to have explained. Rob willingly did this.
   During Werribee days we spent time as families at each others’ houses enjoying sharing the joys and otherwise of parenthood together. On leaving Werribee we have been physically distant but always have felt close. It has been great to get together with Rob, Chris, Alice or Zoe, whether in Canberra, St Paul, Warrnambool, New Zealand or Melbourne and the intervals between encounters seem too long.
   Rob did love his bushwalking in Australia and even his tramping in New Zealand when he visited here. His photography was a talent that will be missed. The themed photo-essays that he compiled with Christmas letters were a rare artistic joy. I suspect that this artistic streak may be a trait passed on to Alice and Zoe. His stamp collecting hobby was one that he used to delve further into the world and to stimulate his unbounded curiosity.
   Denise and I feel so privileged to have known Rob and to have had him share in our lives. We will miss him and always think warmly of him.

   Norm. Williamson

   January 02, 2026 8:23 am

5. I went to the same school as Rob. Our paths didn’t cross much then, but I remember his larger-than-life presence around the school grounds and his commitment to the school scout troop. Later, in the Melbourne University Mountaineering Club, our paths crossed, and on bushwalks we often followed the same path. Rob's commitment to MUMC and his seemingly boundless energy inspired me. He turned up at the clubrooms (Aikman’s Rd) every lunchtime, and when he was editor of “the Mountaineer”, he roped in all and sundry to help with printing and collating the magazine. I tried to emulate him by serving as editor after his term ended, but I don’t think I quite met Rob’s high editorial standards. More than fifty years later, in early 2025, I spoke with Rob about the upcoming federal election. I expressed a poorly thought-out opinion about my preferred candidate. Rob came back with a witty rejoinder that politely brought me down to earth. After fifty years, it was still a delight to be with him.

   Rod Tucker

   January 01, 2026 11:13 am

6. Tony and I first met Rob (and Chris) during our very active bushwalking days with MUMC. Rob was one of those hardy souls who carried a large pack and always wore shorts! Hence we have known one another for about 60 years.
   Since that time we have visited and sometimes stayed overnight with Rob and Chris in Werribee(baby days), Yarralumla (young children) and Warrnambool (sans enfants). They were always most friendly and accommodating hosts. Tony, especially, enjoyed Rob’s lively chats about mathematical intrigues, computers and the like.
   From chasing the kids around the timber playground ramps in Canberra and helping lay pavers in the backyard, to walking the sea cliffs, Tower Hill and the Merri Creek - these were fun times indeed (if only Tony could remember them too!)
   Rest in peace, Rob and may your loved ones cherish fond memories of a life well lived.

   Cath Kerr

   December 31, 2025 1:24 pm

7. Rob me a possible for me to attend walks in Warrnambool as a recent returned member of the community from Sydney. I am so grateful for his inclusiveness and eagerness to be present for conversation. I will miss him and I’m so glad that I got to know him a little.

   Spirit Wolf

   December 27, 2025 6:38 pm

8. Rob Cannon – My Memories

   Rob had many friends who had known him for years, but I probably knew him longest. We met in 1st grade, in 1953, and I remember making rivulets together, fed by water from a tap in our back garden and building dams and canals down a conveniently located slope. For the rest of our school life “Boom” and I continued to be close, two numerate boys doing German, which meant we were usually in the same class. We were both in the scouts and then we were both active in the Melbourne University Mountaineering Club, where we teamed up with good friends Chris and Joan.

   Rob’s father died early, and Rob took responsibility for looking after his mother and his younger sister, so when Chris’ mother advised her to check how Rob treated his mother he passed with flying colours. Joan and I were the witnesses at Rob and Chris’ wedding and then Joan and I married and we have been been in close touch ever since. When, near the end of his career, Rob needed a reference from someone who knew him well, he was tickled that he could provide one from someone who had known him for nearly 60 years.

   I have so many memories of Rob, but one stands out. About 30 years ago structural design was altered to be based on a statistical assessment of loads and strength assuming normal distributions. I rang Rob, my occasional adviser on statistics and asked how to analyse normal distributions, to which he replied “how do you know that these distributions are normal”? A very good question, because it went to the heart of a fundamental problem with the whole approach being used for structural design.

   Rob was a good friend to me over many decades. He was always reliable and always friendly, usually with his trade mark cheeky grin. I’ll miss him.

   Peter Selby Smith

   Peter Selby Smith

   December 27, 2025 9:59 am