Bob Peet Honoured with OAM for Decades of Theatre Service
Former Illawarra resident and inaugural director of the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Bob Peet, has been awarded the prestigious Order of Australia Medal for his exceptional service to the performing arts. Now residing in South Australia, Peet received the honour recognising his significant contributions, particularly during his nine-year tenure leading IPAC in Wollongong.
From Skepticism to Success: The IPAC Story
When construction began on Wollongong's civic theatre in 1987, many predicted failure, with some councillors dismissing the project as a potential "white elephant" for the blue-collar region. Bob Peet, however, arrived as the venue's first director while it was still a building site, armed with unwavering belief in its potential.
"I'm surprised and deeply humbled to have received the OAM," Peet remarked from his South Australian home. He considers the naming of the Bob Peet Studio rehearsal room at IPAC among his greatest honours, alongside this national recognition.
Theatrical Beginnings and Puppetry Passion
Peet's theatrical journey began in suburban Sydney, where his father worked as a carpenter by day and performed as a percussionist by night. Young Bob would sit in orchestra pits during rehearsals, developing an early fascination with stage magic that led him to create miniature model stages at home.
After leaving school, he worked at Farmers department store in Sydney, designing sets and window displays while participating in local theatre productions as both director and set designer. His career took a distinctive turn when he answered a newspaper advertisement for a trainee puppeteer with what would become the Marionette Theatre of Australia.
"I was always interested in puppetry," Peet explained. He toured extensively throughout Australia and Asia for a decade with Peter Scriven's production The Tintookies, a show about little people living in sandhills.
Royal Opening and Accelerated Timeline
Peet's move to Wollongong came after managing the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs. With Australia's Bicentennial approaching, IPAC's opening was accelerated to coincide with Prince Charles and Princess Diana's 1988 visit.
"It was supposed to open in May 1988 but needed to open in January, so the whole thing was accelerated and everyone went into a spin," Peet recalled of the rushed preparations.
The royal couple officially opened the venue on January 30, 1988, with Peet personally escorting Prince Charles through the building. "I do remember Lady Di remarking how the building was so new she could still smell the paint," he said. "I told her not to touch the walls!"
Building Community Through Performance
IPAC's inaugural production was Relatively Speaking, starring June Salter and newsreader-turned-actor Roger Climpson. Despite initial concerns from smaller theatres about competition, Peet worked diligently to ensure IPAC complemented rather than threatened Wollongong's existing arts scene.
"It was very important to me that IPAC wasn't a threat, that we would work with other companies," Peet emphasised. The venue soon became home to groups like Theatre South and the Arcadians, while offering commercial productions in its comfortable, well-designed spaces.
Enduring Passion for Theatre Magic
Reflecting on his Wollongong years, Peet highlights the dedicated people as his greatest highlight. "The people who work in these places aren't there if they don't want to be," he noted. "They have a love of the performing arts and they love dealing with people."
Now involved in local theatre in the Adelaide Hills, Peet maintains his passion for seeing productions come to life. "Everything comes in a truck, the stage is set, then here come the actors, here comes the audience and suddenly you are surrounded by a swell of enjoyment," he described. "In those days especially, we didn't have a big staff, but the curtain has to go up."
Bob Peet's OAM recognises not just his leadership at IPAC, but a lifetime dedicated to creating theatrical magic across Australia, from puppet stages to performing arts centres, leaving a lasting legacy in the country's cultural landscape.
