Thirteen years after her passing, old school friends of ex-Mater Dei College student Felicity Park joined efforts to have something in her honour placed at the school they all attended.
Felicity Park lost her life on 2 March 2003, at the tender age of 22, in a case of domestic violence which left her family and friends in shock. Ms Park’s had only just begun a career with the WA Police Force.
Determined to keep Ms Park’s spirit alive, the ex-students approached their old art teacher, Lisa Bowden, asking her to complete a portrait painting of Ms Park for the school to keep on permanent display. Ms Bowden, an accomplished artist who has held exhibitions in Perth, gladly agreed and promptly commenced work on the painting.
Once completed and entitled She Finally Found Her Nirvana, the work was recently handed over to the Mater Dei College in a small, private function held during the school’s annual Showcase Art and Design Exhibition.
Head of Visual Art at Mater Dei College, Brian Morison, fondly remembered Ms Park as a foundation-year student whose favourite subject area was Art.
“A few years ago the college established the Felicity Park Senior Art Award in her honour and it has been my privilege to maintain this annually.
“Over the years the award has become the most prestigious in the annual Showcase Art and Design Exhibition. Judged by our guest artists every year, the award recognises the art student that has displayed the most refined artistic skills,” Mr Morison said.
Ex-student and good friend of Ms Park, Jenny Coyle, commended her old school for the support shown them from the conception to the delivery of this idea.
“From the get go Mater Dei College were on board with the idea and have been a generous help, allowing us to reflect on someone super special who is gone but never forgotten,” Ms Coyle said.
The piece of artwork will be framed and placed within the school as a memorial to a bright and treasured ex-student.