Robert Storr (banker)

Robert Walter Storr
Born	Template:Birth date Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Died	February 15, 1992(1992-02-15) (aged 71)
Occupation(s)	Banker, Philanthropist
Years active	1939–1980s
Known for	Banking career in Southeast Asia and Australia; philanthropy in medical research and music education

Robert Walter Storr (17 September 1920 – 15 February 1992) was an Australian banker who operated extensively across Southeast Asia and Australia. Following his passing, he gained recognition as a benefactor through his philanthropic contributions to medical research and music education initiatives.

Birth and education

Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Storr relocated at the age of eight to a farm situated between Forbes and Grenfell. His early schooling took place at Ooma Creek Public School, after which he attended Newington College as a boarder from 1935 to 1936. At fifteen years old, he left formal education to resume work on the family farm.

Banking career

After determining that farming was not his preferred path, Storr began employment with the Commonwealth Bank in 1939. Following his military service during World War II, he resumed his banking career with postings in both Australia and Papua New Guinea. From 1958 until 1963, he held the position of Assistant to the Governor at Bank Negara Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. Upon returning to Australia, he was appointed the inaugural Principal of the Commonwealth Bank Staff Training College, later known as Callaghan Staff College. In 1971, Storr accepted the role of Principal at the Training College for Indonesian Bankers in Jakarta and was instrumental in revitalizing the Jakarta Stock Exchange in 1977. His career later involved establishing a Commonwealth Bank branch in Singapore in 1982, where he subsequently provided consultancy services to Westpac after retiring.

Honours

In recognition of his significant service to Malaysia's central banking system, Storr was honored with the title Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (K.M.N.) by King Putra of Perlis.

War service

Storr served as a sergeant in the Australian Army during World War II, from May 1941 until November 1943.

Golf

During his tenure in Malaysia, Storr held the position of Captain at the Royal Selangor Golf Club and later became the first Captain of Indonesia's Jagorawi Golf and Country Club.

Bequests

• The Robert W Storr Chair of Hepatic Medicine was founded in 1993 through a donation of A$5 million to the University of Sydney. This endowment supports Professor Jacob George’s investigations into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, and the cellular and molecular processes involved in chronic hepatitis C development.
• Established in 1993 with a A$1 million fund granted to Newington College, the Robert Walter Storr Music Bursary provides financial assistance covering tuition, boarding, music tuition, and associated costs for talented male students from Indonesia, Malaysia, or Singapore entering Years 9 through 11 who require support to pursue studies in Australia.