Robert S. Merrillees FAHA (born 25 July 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 Corresponding Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 1992.[9]
Family
Merrillees's elder daughter, Antoinette, also joined the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and in 2016 was Charge d’affaires in Berlin.[10] She is married to Australia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations,[11] James Larsen, former Australian Ambassador to Israel and to Turkey.[12] They have three children together: Robert, Isobel and Alexandra.
Merrillees's younger daughter Dolla Merrillees until recently[when?] was the Director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory and Museums Discovery Centre in Sydney.[13][14] 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.[15]
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, 71 (1–2): 30–40, doi:10.1086/NEA20361346, S2CID 166364988
- ^ 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
- ^ "Australia. Antoinette E. Merrillees" (PDF). FAO. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations".
- ^ "Australian Embassy in".
- ^ 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
- ^ "The Woodcutter's Wife: A Stepmother's Tale". www.parentingexpress.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
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