Trina Parker 1947 – 2005

In 2005 the School mourned the loss of Trina Parker, Senior Lecturer in Design, and founder of the postgraduate design programme at the VCA.

Lying at the heart of the VCA’s approach to the training of artists, is the belief that the teachers should also be practitioners – an aspiration that is not always an easy one to realise. Practicing artists do not always make great teachers and those that do are a rarity.

Trina practically defined the ideal staff member. She led an active life as a member of the theatre design profession, regularly designing across an astonishingly wide range of theatre projects as well as engaging with other designers – a week before she first became ill, she had one of her annual ‘end of year drinks’ at her house for as many of Melbourne’s designers as she could muster. ‘What’s the goss?’ would be the greeting as you came in the front door and she handed you a glass of wine. At the same time, she played a leading role as a teacher and mentor of students in the School of production here at the VCA. Whether in a class, at a production meeting or in the staffroom, she was always up for well argued, impassioned debate. She was a superb teacher – again, not long before she became ill, she was awarded the College’s annual excellence in teaching award in recognition of her talent as a teacher as well as her comittment to the School and the College. She was also a valued member of the College Council. Her influence on the future direction of Australian theatre, via the students who she has taught is already evident in the profession now, and will be present for a long time to come.

Trina died at home on Friday 27th September, 2005 after a ten month battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her friends and family.

A scholarship fund has been established specifically with the aim of providing support to young aspiring designers. Tax deductible donations can be made to the Trina Parker Scholarship Fund at the VCA. For further information please contact the School of Production on 03 96859252

To apply for the Scholarship please click here.