Vale Victorian College of the Arts

Victorian College of the Arts (VCA)
One of Australia's premier arts training grounds of the late 20th century

Born 1972 - Died 2009


A coincidence of time and place, and sheer hard work, enabled the Victorian College of the Arts (or VCA as she was known to her close friends and acquaintances), who has died aged only 37, to become one of the 20th century's premier arts training grounds in Australia.

Gillian Armstrong, Bill Henson, Sibylla Budd, Isabel Lucas, Vince Colosimo, Hannie Rayson, Adam Elliott, Nicole Youl, Phillip Adams, John Butler, Robert Luketic and Sarah Watt are just some of the alumni who had the fortune of her fine and cutting edge teaching practices.



The VCA's premature death, just yesterday, was after an assault many have called one of the most violent in the nation's history. Despite an enormous amount of witnesses coming forward, Victorian Police and the AFP say that the assailants are still on the loose. There was a spotting as recently as this morning of one of the alleged perpetrators in Canberra seen in a white car not far from Parliament House.

The VCA was at the height of her star studded career in what was a relatively short rise to fame, glory and respect amongst her peers.

Producing some of the best artists, directors, actors and film makers this country has seen, VCA was renown around the world for her vibrancy, originality and professionalism as a laboratory of investigation for the arts.

Although she had a rough first few years, her luck came when she amalgamated in 1978 with the VCA Technical School and welcomed musicians and dancers into the fold of artists. The result would make her the jewel in the crown of arts training grounds and set her on a path of collaboration and investigation that would be the envy of every state around the country.

Sadly, VCA was diagnosed with a massive brain tumour in April this year after Dr Sharman Pretty of Melbourne University prescribed incorrect medicines for what she believed was a simple cold. Police are investigating whether Pretty should face manslaughter charges.

VCA was taken to the Royal Canberra Hospital for further tests and treatment but she died on arrival.

The arts community was in mourning and shock with the news today, as it was revealed that VCAs death was the same as that suffered by her cousin Theatre Nepean just two years ago.

Some within the community are calling for a Royal Commission into how these deaths could have been avoided and whether there is any evidence of malpractice from within either the State Government of Victoria or the Federal Government.

VCA was born to Polish immigrant parents in Paris, France but moved as a toddler to Melbourne, Victoria, which gave her a lifelong love of the arts - most particularly theatre and music. When she was 12 the family moved to Perth, Western Australia where they gave birth to another child, WAAPA, but VCA stayed with close relatives in Melbourne.

At the age of 17 she was already deemed the top of her class in all forms in artistic expression and her reputation was quickly consolidated.

VCA is survived by an elder sibling NIDA, a younger sister WAAPA and twin brother AIS. VCA will be laid to rest next to her beloved cousin Theatre Nepean at a ceremony on Thursday.


Further information on VCA's death can be found HERE and HERE.