Robert Galbally was born in Murrumbeena, Victoria, in 1921, the seventh of nine children born to William Stanton and Eileen (nee Cummins.). He had six brothers: Jack, Edward, Jim, Bill, Francis and Bryan and two sisters: Kathleen and Eileen. His sister Kathleen was an anaesthetist and his brother Bryan, a specialist in intensive care. Two brothers, Jack and Frank, were prominent and successful criminal lawyers, and Jack was also a Member of the Legislative Council of Victoria.

Bob attended secondary college at St Patrick's in East Melbourne, where he was both a prefect and school captain. He studied medicine at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 1944 with the Margaret Ryan Medal in Medicine. During this period he lived at Newman College and was President of the Newman College Students' Club in his final year.

From 1944 to 1946 he was a Resident and Registrar at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne. In 1947 he worked as an assistant to his brother-in-law, Ray Gurry, in general practice in Coburg. Late that year he moved to a practice in Hartwell where he remained for thirty years. He then relocated the practice to Riversdale Road, East Camberwell, where he remained until retiring in 2000. He continued until 2001 as a part-time medical practitioner at Nazareth House where he had had a long association. Between 1960 and 1962 he worked as an Assistant Physician to the Outpatients at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne. Bob was a very caring, compassionate and skilful general practitioner, with a particular interest in internal medicine.

In 1945 he married Joan Collins whom he had known since school days. They had nine children, Robert, Margot, Judy, Joan, Christine, Tim, Damien, Helen and Elizabeth. Margot and Helen were nurses and Tim was a psychologist.

Bob was an excellent footballer, both at school and university. During the 1944 season played eight games with the Collingwood Firsts. He continued his association with the Collingwood Football Club for many years. He also played and enjoyed golf. He read extensively, in particular history and biographies, and enjoyed music. He was very interested in bird watching. Other interests included the Presidency and committee work for the three R's (Research and Rehabilitation of Retarded Children), the Catholic Family Welfare Bureau and the Australian Council of National Family Planning.