DOYLE, Robert Keith Bennett
Robert Doyle was first educated at Myrtleford State School before winning a scholarship and attending as a boarder at the Geelong College from 1966 to 1971.
At Geelong College he was a member of the 1st Tennis VIII of 1970, the 1st Football XVIII in 1971 and participated as a member of the Music, Debating, Pegasus and PFA committees. After leaving school he studied at Monash University graduating in 1977 and returning to Geelong College as a teacher in 1978. As a staff member, he taught English became Head of Keith House in 1981 and edited the School Magazine Pegasus in 1979 and 1980. In 1982, he returned to Melbourne to continue teaching at Lauriston Girls’ School and later at Scotch College, Melbourne.
In 1992, Doyle was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the Member for Malvern when the Liberal Party under Jeff Kennett defeated Joan Kirner at the Victorian State Election. In 1996, Robert Doyle became Parliamentary Secretary for Human Services. Following the defeat of the Kennett government at the 1999 State Election Robert Doyle became Opposition Health Spokesman and in 2002 shortly before the State Election became leader of the Victorian Liberal Party. Although the Liberal Party lost the election, Robert Doyle remained the leader until, in 2006 acknowledging his declining support, he resigned from both the leadership position and, in November of 2006, from Parliament. In 2007, he became Chairman of Melbourne Health, the group that operates the Royal Melbourne Hospital. In 2008 and 2012, he was elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
In June 2017 Robert Doyle was appointed a Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia. This appointment was terminated by the Governor-General in April 2023.
Robert Doyle resigned as Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne in February 2018 contemporaneously with allegations that he had engaged in sexual misconduct and harassment including of students when a teacher at Geelong College. In May 2021 Robert Doyle expressed remorse for distress that he had caused to women by his conduct and he described his conduct as “reprehensible”.
Sources: Pegasus, 1978 p46; Portrait of Geelong College, 1979 p58; Geelong Times 14 Feb 2001; Herald Sun (Melb) 21 August 2002; The Age (Melb) 22 Sep 2012; http://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/australian-honours-lists. OGC 1968.