For as long as he can remember, Richard Stone has been intrigued by history and fascinated by the creative endeavours of his fellow humans. During the seventies and early eighties he was engaged in courses of study at Prahran College, Monash University and the University of Melbourne. He emerged ready to confront the world with Diplomas in Art & Design and Education, an Honours Degree in Art History and an incomplete MA that stubbornly refused to accommodate his burgeoning interests in literature, theatre, opera and the visual arts.
Deciding that it was time to contribute something to the community Richard embarked on an immensely satisfying career as a school teacher – initially at Marcellin College, and subsequently at the Prahran campus of Wesley College, where he worked for over two decades. Since the mid-nineties he has travelled to Europe regularly, accompanying student groups to France and Britain and leading cultural tours to Italy and other Mediterranean countries for both student and parent groups. Richard has presented public lectures on Nineteenth Century opera and Medieval architecture and in recent years has been developing and delivering an innovative, cross disciplinary, humanities based lecture program for senior secondary students.
Richard has continued to practise as a painter over the years and has held occasional exhibitions of his work. He rarely travels without a camera and has accumulated an idiosyncratic collection of images inspired by places, spaces and a sense of history. A long standing interest in literature, a passion for opera and an ongoing engagement with team sport in various capacities – most notably cricket and Australian Rules football – has allowed little time for the twiddling of thumbs.