 | OBITUARY VALE PAULA WHITMAN 1960–2006
| Generous, passionate and always involved, Paula Whitman was one of Queensland
architecture’s most enthusiastic participants. Jennifer Taylor and Sarah Rush remember
a friend, colleague and teacher, Paula Whitman, BArch, MAppSc, PhD, FRAIA. |
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Paula Whitman with husband John Diecke and sons
William and Charlie.
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Beautiful Paula. On Monday 23 October
2006, Queensland architecture lost one of
its most sparkling stars. I know no one who
loved life more than Paula Whitman – she
rejoiced in its every moment, sharing with
those around her the glory of the world. It is
hard for us to realize that that vivacious
sparkle, while it is still with us, is no longer
amongst us – it is now shining elsewhere.
I came to know Paula in 1998, when she
was enthusiastically teaching at Queensland
University of Technology, was writing her
PhD, was very pregnant with Charlie, and
had husband John and three-year-old
William to go home to – all of which she
juggled with effortless joy. As well as her
rewards with the family, in 2000 she was
awarded her doctorate from Griffith
University. But, before too long, a further
demand was to be placed on her. In 2001
she was diagnosed with cancer, underwent
surgery and treatment followed.
Remarkably, she quickly put this behind
her and, with courage and her winning
smile, continued to look forward, never
backwards. Before long, she was teaching
again with renewed vigour and her magical
sense of humour, bravely facing her
problems openly.
Paula was always a very high achiever,
winning many prizes as an undergraduate,
including the 1978 Board of Architects
Queensland Prize, and, in 1983, graduating
with the Board of Architects of Queensland
Prize, the QIT Medal and the Royal
Australian Institute of Architects’ QIA
Medallion. After ten years in practice, she
commenced her master’s studies and was
appointed to the staff of QUT in 1993, a
position she continued to hold throughout
her career.
Paula was a gifted teacher. I was
privileged to teach with her in research
programmes and design studios, and on
student field trips, including a memorable
visit with the students by train to Townsville
(William and Charlie came with us). She had
a remarkably relaxed and engaging manner,
and an undeterred enthusiasm that was
infectious. Somehow she managed to put
herself and the students on the same side,
working together towards some important
end (and Paula would make sure they all
had fun on the way). I guess it was the touch
of the larrikin in her. It was always a joy to
see her perform. Students described her as
a “fantastic lecturer”, and even more
importantly wrote of her as “friendly,
sincere, interested”. But it was not just the
students, but also her colleagues who
enjoyed, and were assisted by, her generous
and encouraging companionship. How
fortunate her colleagues and students are to
have had Paula’s presence amongst them.
In 2000, in her pursuit of excellence in
architectural education, Paula extended her
career to lead the Education Committee of
the chapter, and in 2002 rose to become
deputy chair of the RAIA National
Education Committee. Despite reoccurrences
of her illness, Paula was determined to
continue to perform. And perform she did,
becoming president of the Queensland
Chapter of the RAIA in 2004. She always
appreciated the willing cooperation she
received from the local chapter, which
helped to pave her way. With her winning
charm, concern for things that matter, and
never-failing good humour, Paula quickly
became one of the most admired presidents
we have had. She was a remarkable
ambassador for the Queensland Chapter in
Brisbane, throughout the state, and in
Canberra. How fortunate the profession is
to have had Paula’s presence amongst us.
One of the major contributions of her
presidency and her academic career was her
sustained effort to improve collaboration
and communication in practice, and to
support the role of women in the profession.
In 2004, she was a member of a team that
won the Sisalation Prize for the publication
of a book, Coalitions and Collaborations in
Contemporary Practice. Paula was a
member of the National Association of
Women in Construction, and in 2004 was
awarded the Year of the Built Environment
Award for her outstanding efforts to
improve the place of women in architecture.
In 2005, she published a remarkable study,
Going Places: The Career Progression of
Women in the Architecture Profession,
which made a valuable contribution to
understanding the expectations of women
in architecture. How fortunate we, the
women of architecture, are to have had
Paula’s presence amongst us.
It always seemed to me that Paula’s life
became enriched through her private
encounters with her illness; somehow she
became warmer, more joyful, and delighted
even more than before in everything she did
and in everything she saw. Certainly, she
fashioned many of her major gifts to us, her
family, friends, colleagues, students and
people in the street, after 2001. She lived life
all the way and, as a colleague commented,
“she made a bloody good job of it”.
It is an impossible task to write adequately
of this wonderful woman who won
everyone’s admiration, and I cannot hope to
give expression to the emotions many of you
feel at this time. These few words are but a
poor attempt to outline my reading of her
ever-cheerful self and her legacy to us.
I am sure Paula would be happy to know
that, on behalf of us all, I close by thanking
John and the boys who, as she frequently
told me, gave her the love, courage and
support to carry on. Without those valuable
years you gave to Paula, and Paula gave to
us, Australian architects would be much
the poorer.
JENNIFER TAYLOR WAS A FRIEND OF
PAULA WHITMAN.
Paula’s funeral was a deeply moving
celebration of her precious life. St Thomas
Aquinas, St Lucia, was packed to
overflowing with the sad faces of the people
Paula touched – her adoring family, friends,
peers and students. During the requiem
mass and afterwards, her personal and
professional legacy began to unfold: school
captain, favourite lecturer, passionate
architect, cool mum, best mate. Her funeral
was like an architectural archaeological dig.
I will never forget the first day I met
Paula. It was at the QUT Gardens Point
campus in Brisbane. Paula was the fifth year
coordinator for design. As she entered the
classroom with boxes of printouts, unit
outlines, criteria sheets and reading lists I
quipped to my slightly bemused colleague,
“Hang on boys, we have a live one here!” Paula’s dynamic, contagious enthusiasm,
her conversation and energy, and her
cheeky, bright-eyed laugh blew us all away.
Paula could stack a lecture theatre. Her
passion for architecture and the profession
were addictive. I was never surprised to
receive calls from Paula about exciting jobs
to do, hot gossip, new “Paula” ways to
extend capacity, or the long list of
architectural gems that one really must go
to and see as soon as possible. Paula
inspired me to travel, gain international
experience and to visit the buildings on
her “must see list.”
As a student at QUT, I can recall
numerous occasions on which a stream of
students loitered at Paula’s door. They were
all waiting for a few minutes with her.
Students she was no longer teaching still
came to her with their academic concerns.
She once asked me, “Do you think I’m too
soft, a real pushover?” I think I replied,
“Yes, of course.” Perhaps this was because
I would never have had her patience and
concern. This is what made her such a
wonderful teacher and mentor. Students
came to Paula because they knew that she
cared – not just for a semester, but for the
whole length of their studies and beyond.
Paula had a broad concern for students and
the future of architecture in Australia. She
cherished youth and talent and, being
young at heart, she related to all. Paula was
in the business of “making architects not
buildings”. I remember her telling me that
one of her proudest moments as the
Queensland RAIA chapter president was
presenting RAIA awards to past pupils at
regional, state and national awards
ceremonies. She remarked that some of
those boys were shocking students, but that
you knew, even then, they would make very
talented architects. Undoubtedly she
encouraged them along the way. Without
this encouragement, they may have given
up, but Paula didn’t give up on them.
Paula was a shining light for women in
architecture. She combined her skills,
leadership and scholarship to promote the
career progression of women in the
profession. She was a mother, wife, believer,
provider, designer, lecturer, writer,
president, parishioner and rugby team
manager and even, on the odd occasion, a
tuckshop mum. Nothing was ever done by
halves. She lived everyday to the full and
shone love, strength and endless energy,
with a smile, at every obstacle. It was
passion and purpose all the way. We all
miss her but know she will always remain
in our hearts.
SARAH RUSH IS A GRADUATE OF QUT, A PAST
STUDENT AND FRIEND OF DR PAULA WHITMAN.
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