Life Membership
Life Membership
About Life Membership
VAPAC Life Membership presents an opportunity to honour accomplished professionals in the VAPAC network who have made substantial contributions to the industry and the broader community. Awarding of a life membership involves a nomination process, with evaluation and selection overseen by the Executive Committee and approved by VAPAC members. Life membership provides the opportunity for the recipient to remain engaged with the network, and for VAPAC to draw on their experience and expertise.
Outlined below are the criteria for Life Membership of the Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres:
Significant contribution to the performing arts sector: The nominated member has made an outstanding contribution and positively impacted the performing arts sector over an extended period of time. The individual’s work should have primarily been in the management of performing arts centres, but may also involve broader work in the industry.
Significant contribution to the VAPAC network: The individual should have a demonstrated track record of contributing to the VAPAC network through participation on committees, involvement in events, and through supporting other members through advice or mentorship.
Held in high regard by peers: The individual should be held in high regard by the members of VAPAC, having conducted themselves in a highly professional and respectful manner throughout their career.
Willingness to accept life membership: As far as can be known, would the nominated individual be comfortable receiving Life Membership from VAPAC
How to nominate an individual for Life Membership
Nominations for life membership can be received at any time. Please find below the three-step nomination process:
Nomination: Compose a nomination email addressed to the VAPAC Executive Committee, with attention to Executive Director. Clearly state the nominee’s name, contact information, affiliated venue/s, and provide a 500-word description that outlines why this individual is a suitable candidate for Life Membership. Focus on highlighting their notable achievements and significant contributions to the broader VAPAC community. Submissions should be emailed to director@vapac.org.au.
Consideration by the Executive Committee: The nomination will be assessed against the criteria, with further information sought is required. If the Executive Committee votes to support the nomination, it will be presented to the broader membership for formal approval.
Final Approval: The Executive Committee will then take the nomination to the wider VAPAC membership for a final decision on whether to grant the Life Membership to the nominated individual.
VAPAC Life Members
Tina Rettke
After 44 years working at Geelong Arts Centre in various roles, Tina’s primary focus was always the Box Office and Customer Service. She helped steer the organisation through the introduction of computerised Ticketing systems, the rollout of online Ticketing, partnerships with Ticketmaster and Ticketek, the centre’s 3-stage major redevelopment, and navigating COVID-19. Her tenure spanned the venue’s growth from a small regional arts organisation into the significant cultural institution it is today.
As one of the founding members of the VAPAC Box Office Managers network, Tina completed 3 terms as Chair and a further 4 terms on the general committee. She was also a founding member of the Ticketing Professionals Conference Committee, a role she held for 10 years.
Beyond her operational role at Geelong Arts Centre, Tina has been a passionate advocate for and participant in Geelong’s broader theatre community. A life member of the Geelong Repertory Theatre Company, she has built an extensive stage career spanning more than four decades. Some of her favourite roles include Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion, Christine Vole in Witness for the Prosecution and Maggie in Jake’s Women, a role for which she won Best Actress in a Drama at the 2018 Geelong Theatre Awards. She also received the Victorian Drama League’s Best Supporting Actress award in 2009 for her role in The Popular Mechanicals.
Tina retired from Geelong Arts Centre in 2026 but remains deeply connected to the arts, continuing her involvement with Geelong Repertory Theatre Company and looking forward to experiencing the centre’s programming as a patron for the first time. Her decades of service, institutional knowledge and genuine warmth have left a lasting mark on Geelong Arts Centre and the wider Victorian Performing Arts community.
Robin Batt
Robin is a highly regarded leader and manager within the arts sector, known for her integrity, steady leadership, and genuine commitment to community and the people she works with. She is a supportive mentor, respected for her reliability, thoughtful guidance, and dedication to fostering positive, collaborative environments.
With more than 30 years’ experience in local government arts, Robin has played a key role in the development and opening of three major performing arts and gallery facilities: the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre in the Southern Grampians Shire (a redeveloped town hall), the Frankston Arts Centre for the City of Frankston, and Bunjil Place for the City of Casey. Her work has consistently centred on community engagement, festival development, accessibility, staff development, and the presentation of high-quality, contemporary arts programs.
Robin has contributed to the sector through service on the Executive teams of VAPAC and APACA (now PAC Australia) and has participated in several State Government Assessment Panels. During her time at the Frankston Arts Centre, she was nominated by the Board for the Victorian Telstra Business Women’s Award in the Corporate and Governance category, an award she went on to receive.
Before entering the arts sector, Robin spent over six years working as a scientist in rural South Australia as part of a Brucellosis eradication program, collaborating closely with the veterinary and farming communities. She later spent more than three years abroad on a working holiday across the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, and Africa, undertaking roles in hospitality, office management, accounts, payroll, and executive support.
Within her own community, Robin has long volunteered as a junior netball coach and has played a key role in an annual Pink Lady fundraising event. Now retired, she is focusing her energy on Companion Dog training with her young Australian Shepherd, “Lois,” with the hope of volunteering as a Story Dog in local primary schools and as a therapy dog handler in aged care settings.
Stuart McKellar
Stuart McKellar has significant experience in the entertainment industry working with many production companies and venues, including the Opera House in Sydney, the Arts Centre in Melbourne and many of the metropolitan and regional venues, Australia wide. Stuart has vast experience working in all aspects of the Arts including Ballet, Opera, Theatre, Festivals, Music Theatre and National Touring productions. He also has extensive knowledge in function and event set ups and planning.
With a career spanning nearly 50 years, Stuart has assisted with the creation of marketing and touring schedules managing both staff and assets to increase productivity and venue turnover. Within his experience in Technical & Operation Management, Stuart has overseen many large events and developed systems to streamline operations, maximizing venue and staff potential. Touring with many performances, Stuart has been responsible for liaising with different departments and overseeing every stage of the production from start to finish. He also has excellent finance skills, able to create and manage budgets to both ensure targets are met whilst providing excellent customer service.
Stuart has created and implemented strategic plans for venue operations and touring schedules, OH&S and safe work procedures and policies to align with core business plans and all required legislation. His background working in numerous venues and with many reputable theatres and performance companies, as well as his extensive industry contacts, makes Stuart an asset to any venue. He has recently completed a Certificate 4 in Training and Assessment enabling him to continue sharing his vast knowledge with new generations.
His passion for this industry and genuine care for the people that help bring our world of live theatre performance to life, for the enjoyment of the community is a rare & valuable thing indeed.
Rob Robson
Until his retirement in 2021, Rob Robson was Manager of Arts, Culture and Events for Baw Baw Shire Council, managing West Gippsland Arts Centre in Warragul. During his ten years in the role, he delivered a major redevelopment of the Centre and led a team committed to the community and cultural development of a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse peri-urban region.
This role followed the previous 10 years as Manager of Performing Arts and Conventions for Greater Shepparton City Council; a period that saw him oversee construction of Westside Performing Arts Centre, Mooroopna and the redevelopment of the Shepparton Town Hall (Eastbank Centre).
Prior to his career in arts management, he was an English and History teacher for 28 years, teaching in the Victorian Secondary Schools sector.
He has served as a member and Chair of the executive team leading the Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres (VAPAC), and as a board member of Regional Arts Victoria (RAV) and Melbourne Chamber Orchestra.
He was artistic director for the SheppARTon Festival from 2003 to 2008 and was a foundation board member of the Festival from 1997 – 2009. He is a life member of community theatre group Shepparton Theatre Arts Group and has enjoyed success as a theatre director, designer, actor and writer.
Now retired, he has, at last, found time to return to his passion for community theatre.
