Dianne Margaret PEACOCK

I met Dianne working in the garden home office of Simon and Freda Thornton Architects. It was a unique haven of creativity and individuality where those who worked there, were given freedom to express themselves and lasting respect and friendships were formed.

I recollect that Dianne often had control of the music machine, which was on a shelf above her desk, and Simon was mostly accommodating of this, until he decided that it was time for something else or someone else to have a turn.

One of Dianne’s music choices was the band Bikini Kill, riot grrrl.
At that time, I found this radical, brash, loud, political, punk alternative music rankled my then, ‘good-girl’ sense of acceptability in music taste, but could appreciate the individual feminist expression.

As others have noted, Dianne had a calm about her and moved gently and with grace. Her music taste, therefore seemed such an apparent incongruity, but Dianne held well a mix of vulnerability with an assured sense of self, interests, and way of being in the world.

When I last saw Dianne, she was retreating into her own world of perceptions. She was intent on the light reflecting off the stainless steel leg of the table, which had perhaps ceased to hold the same conventional associations and meanings.

Yet, it seemed to me, that Dianne had never seen the world in a ‘conventional’ way. That the attraction of what she saw then in the table, though it could be attributed to the progression of the illness, was also part of her unique way of seeing the world, and part of her artistic visual creative focus; just as the play of light through water flowing past an opening in a concrete structure, in one of her photographic explorations.

Dianne saw the delicacy, impermanence and beauty in the details and shared the wonder to be found in these occurrences.

I am so thankful and grateful that there is such love and care in the world, like that of Chris and those who encircled, cared for and protected Dianne, when she was well and also as her disease progressed.
Dianne, I am so pleased to have shared some of your journey.

May we all be dappled in light, love and continue to be intrigued by the wonder and impermanence of it all.

Kate Harrison

Dianne was a good friend and an inspiration. She was one who led without seeking to be a leader. As a life drawing model when we were at Uni, in the vanguard to study in Denmark, working on the production line at Ford in Geelong, in the appreciation of brutalist infrastructure in the high country, climbing the fence at pine gap, fine coffee, super 8, coopers ale, dye-lines, collage, zines, running on the grass for the pure joy of movement, speed and self propulsion…
Throughout the time I knew Dianne she displayed calm, charm, an original creativity and a pointy intellect – she did not suffer fools, bigots or time wasters.
Dianne also had a great sense of humor, and employed a cocked eyebrow like no one else I know.
For all her friends, I feel that the world is likely a far less interesting place without her in it.
Vale Dianne (and cheers!)

To Dianne,

An original thinker, creative in many senses, self-effacing but with lateral clarity of purpose. An honour to know you indeed.

It was an honour and a privilege to care for Dianne. She was a gentle, wise, and deeply thoughtful woman whose presence brought calm and warmth to everyone around her. Even in the face of illness, she carried herself with quiet strength, grace, and a beautiful sense of humour.

Dianne was not only my client, but someone I came to admire and deeply respect. I will always treasure the conversations we shared, the peaceful moments, and her kind spirit that left a lasting impression on me.

To Chris and all of Dianne’s loved ones—thank you for allowing me to be part of her journey. She will remain in my thoughts with love and gratitude.

With heartfelt sympathy,
Punam

I first met Dianne when I was teaching in the Fourth Year Design studio in the Architecture faculty at Deakin University. Her work was both original and genuine, and even then she was following her own creative path.

From 1991 until 1993, and then from 1994 until 2000, she worked at our small architectural practice. On many occasions she surprised us with unique designs, carefully developed and thoroughly documented. She was a thoughtful and humble person. Her presence was always calm and kind. I have memories of her eating her home-made lunch in the sun in our garden, and interacting with our two children.

She left in 2000 to work in her own art, architecture, publication and exhibition studio in the city.

We kept in touch over the years at six-monthly office lunches, until her declining health prevented her from attending.

It was a privilege to share time and conversation with such a special person.

Condolences to Chris, family and loved ones, may you have beautiful and lasting memories of your dear Dianne. From the studio years at Deakin University in Geelong, I will remember Dianne as a thoughtful, studious and creative person. Kind, generous and calm with her down to earth character. She loved to chat and have a good laugh, observing life and seeing the irony of things. Sometimes we would just hang out, she would say she was from regional Victoria and I would say I am from the city, yet we just met in the middle, easy to talk with, she just seemed so grounded and perceptive.  A smart, interesting individual, just doing her thing! Dianne was passionate about her architectural work and life and just got on with it. Apart from her design talent, during her later years, she was managing a studio, which I am sure she did very well. It was great to catch up with Dianne again in more recent years. Rest in peace, Dianne, a lovely soul.

Dear Chris,
my deepest condolences to you, Dianne’s family and loved ones.

Our dearest friend and colleague, Dianne Peacock has passed away.  

Those that got to know Dianne will recall the exceptional person that she was. Dianne moved gently and with grace – she was not in a hurry, and yet she was often on the move – on her bike (traversing the broad city of Melbourne), on public transport, walking and sometimes driving – especially to Wangaratta – where Dianne had spent her childhood, and where the house she designed for her mother was located. Dianne was lithe and light. 
 
Dianne’s brilliance and phenomenal talent showed in all projects/task – big or small. The quality of her creative work is not only unexpected, it is almost unimaginable/ original, technically sophisticated – Subplot, Dye Line; SWARM (Bees), Strathmore Secondary College – in the later years, the Thredbo mountain, and many other works. Dianne gave many presentations – one I recall was on ‘architect’s practice’ – Dianne presented 24 hours of a day in her studio. It was remarkable – all the thousands of things that no one else has bothered to say. It reveals the main undercurrent in Dianne’s work – ‘care/caring’ for what you do, caring about how you think, caring about ideas, caring about execution. Never was Dianne frivolous, though she often made us laugh with her quirky sense of humour. Dianne offered us a lens to another world; it was the real world, we just had not noticed. 
 
It is a gift to have known and know Dianne Peacock – to have listened to her, sat with her observing the world, laughed and walked, and smiled. Thank you Dianne – ЛЕСНА ДА ТИ Е ЗЕМЈА.

Sincere condolences to Chris, Family and Loved Ones.
Dianne will be fondly remembered by her colleagues, friends, and students for her enthusiasm, encouragement, and inspiration. Her architectural and artistic achievements are lasting landmarks in her career, highlighted by numerous exhibitions and buildings, most notably, the house she designed for her mother in Wangaratta. Rest In Peace.