THE ERIC
PARKER TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIP IN ARCHITECTURE
THE ERIC PARKER TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIP IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT
SCHOLARSHIP FOR AN ARCHITECTURE STUDENT
SHOWING THE GREATEST POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT
PARKER SCHOLARS
Jo Bastian, 2006, Ruth Parker, Cherry Williamson,
2004, Philip Hails, 2005, Andrew Donaldson, 2001
The Eric Parker Travelling Scholars, following their
return from their travels and until completion of their studies
in Architecture at the University of Newcastle.
THE MISSION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP
The Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship provides
a deserving student with the opportunity to travel internationally
and thus develop a maturity and a sense of professional worldliness
that comes from global travel. The spirit of the scholarship reflects
the encouragement to look outwards, which all members of The Architecture
Foundation, as graduates in Architecture from Newcastle, received
from Eric Parker throughout our student days. His influence deflated
our parochial views and exposed us all to the richness and depth
that comes from a global experience of architecture.
The scholarship seeks to extend that same opportunity
and experience to a deserving student currently enrolled in the
Architecture programme at the University of Newcastle.
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP
The Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship in Architecture
was established in 2000 with the intention of selecting and supporting
an undergraduate student of Architecture, enrolled at the University
of Newcastle, to undertake a programme of travel and architectural
encounter reflecting their own professional vision.
Importantly, this unique award is not a prize
for the best academic student in Architecture.
By way of The Architecture Foundation, the scholarship
is supported by a number of architectural practices whose directors
are graduates of the University of Newcastle.
These include Suters Architects, E.J.E. Architecture
and Duc Associates, all major practices in Newcastle. Financial
support also comes from practices in Sydney, including Rice Daubney
and from countries such as Singapore and Malaysia, USA and Britain,
where early Newcastle graduates, who were students of Eric Parker,
are now senior members of the architectural profession. The scholarship
also enjoys corporate support from the building industry, consulting
engineers and a variety of professional and commercial organisations
who maintain annual sponsorship and support by way of the Architecture
Foundation.
The Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship in Architecture
is an official scholarship of the University of Newcastle. Scholarship
funds are provided by The Architecture Foundation on an annual basis
and are then held in trust by the University until each annual award
is made.
For 2007, the value of the award is $9,000.00
with future increases now planned.
Each scholar is required, upon return, to complete
formal studies at the University of Newcastle and disseminate experiences
and acquired knowledge to colleagues, staff, the student body of
the School, the architectural profession and the wider community.
Each scholar is also invited to speak about their travel experiences
at the annual Foundation dinner, following their return.
There have been six awards made since 2001 and
the 2006 award recipient was announced on 9 September at the 2006
scholarship dinner. The events leading to the 2007 award are now
under way.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AT NEWCASTLE
The Newcastle School of Architecture was founded
in 1925 following implementation of the first Architects’
Act in N.S.W., in 1921. Initially, the school was staffed by two
practitioners who were seconded to the Newcastle Technical College
from local practices. At that time, the architecture programme was
administered by the N.S.W. Department of Technical Education and
later, the University of New South Wales until the foundation of
the University of Newcastle in 1965. The school has always been
relatively small and its student numbers have varied from as few
as 5, with just 20 students in the post-war period, to now more
than 350.
Now part of Australia’s largest regional
university, the school has a mix of experienced senior practitioners
and highly qualified academic staff. It draws students from more
than 20 countries and is held to be one of the world’s most
important schools of architecture as a result of its pioneering
of Problem Based Learning in Architecture. It holds the highest
levels of professional accreditation at state, national, Commonwealth
and global levels.
ABOUT ERIC PARKER
Eric Parker was the first full time member of
staff of the School of Architecture at Newcastle, being appointed
in 1957 and was its second Professor of Architecture from 1974 to
1984. He taught Building Technology alongside Drawing, History,
Theory and Design Process, Design Studio, Professional Practice
and Law. He had a passion for planning, the arts and the big picture.
There are numerous examples of Eric’s community involvement
which have altered the face of Newcastle over the years.
Eric was a wise and giving educator. He fought
for Architecture to be included in the foundation disciplines of
the new University of Newcastle in 1965 and successfully resisted
later attempts to remove the discipline by those who saw no place
for the professions in university education. Times have surely changed!
Eric retired in 1984 and died in October 1994.
He is survived by his widow, Ruth, who is an ardent supporter of
the Scholarship and the scholars.
Eric exposed his students to architecture at a
global level, a shock for many who initially knew little more than
the buildings of Newcastle and a few in Sydney. He developed a passion
for history, human society and the arts in all students who knew
him. He was an intimate educator and considered all architectural
souls were to be saved and then richly developed.
Consequently, the decision was made, in 2000,
to honour Eric Parker by way of this important scholarship.
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