VICTORSEN Keith Robert
insurance executive, citizen soldier and voluntary worker

Keith Victorsen was born in Brisbane on 3 September 1927, he lived with his parents and two brothers in Coorparoo, attending Coorparoo State School from 1932 to1941.

His first job, at the age of 14, was with the Sunday newspaper Truth – starting on 15 February 1942, the day Singapore fell and his older brother Len was captured while serving with the 2/10 Fd Regt of 8 Aust Div.  It was not until October of 1945 that the family was advised of his execution at the end of the infamous Sandakan Death March in Borneo.

Whilst working for the newspaper he undertook night studies in Commercial Bookkeeping at the State Commercial High School.   He also enlisted in the RAAF Air Training Corps at age 16 and completed two years of study for transfer to an aircrew squadron on reaching age 18 years. The war ended two weeks before his call-up was due.

In December 1947 he took up a position with Equitable Probate and General Insurance, a job which was to last 45 years serving in Brisbane, Sydney (21 years) and Adelaide. Career-wise the Sydney experience was the greatest of all when he progressed through the ranks from clerk to management positions in the three cities. In 1982, with the approach of retirement, he was transferred back to Brisbane as Branch Superintendent until retirement in 1992. 

During his initial period working in Brisbane he joined the CMF, managing to fit in six years with the RAASC in 5 Coy RAASC at Annerley then Enoggera, moving through the ranks to eventually qualify for the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 by his retirement from the CMF in 1956.  The experience instilled a great affection for the Army and the Defence Force as a whole.

In 1992, following the completion of his civilian career, he joined the Royal United Service Institute and was reunited with several of his former Army mates, much to his delight. He served as Secretary of the Institute for 13 years, a job which absolutely absorbing and rewarding. His efforts he were recognised with the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006.

Keith is an active member of the Australian American Association Brisbane and carries on work at the Institute as Committee Member and organiser, which continues to delight him: he declares he will have to be carried out in a box before giving up assisting the Institute.