Victor Vodicka

Václav (later Victor) Vodička AM DA (Prague) FRMIT MACE (28 September 1921 – 30 September 1992) was a Czech born gold and silversmith who emigrated to Australia in 1950 and taught at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) from 1955 to 1983. It has been said that 'his contribution to Australian jewellery was made as the lecturer in charge of gold and silversmithing in Australia'. After attending the local primary and secondary schools, in 1941 he graduated from Prague College of Industrial Arts, specialising in gold and silver design and manufacturing. He later attended the prestigious State School of Jewellery in Turnov in 1942 and 1943.

Immigration to Australia After the Second World War, Vodička was active in democratic politics, supporting President Edvard Beneš and his Czech National Social Party (Czech: Česká strana národně sociální, ČSNS) in the only free post-war elections in Czechoslovakia (until 1990) in May 1946. When the political situation deteriorated in Czechoslovakia following the communist coup in February 1948, he fled Czechoslovakia, 'illegally' leaving the country for Germany in September 1949 and made his way to the British occupation zone in Berlin. In mid-January 1950, he moved to the Fallingbostel Displaced Persons Camp for the purposes of emigrating to Australia. In March 1950, he went by train to the Bagnoli Displaced Persons Camp in Italy and on 31 March 1950 left Naples on the USAT General M. L. Hersey with 1,335 other European refugees bound for Australia, arriving in Melbourne on 27 April 1950. After arriving in Australia, he spent about three weeks at the Bonegilla Migrant Camp before returning to Melbourne to take up work.

Career In the first few years after arriving in Australia, Vodička had a number of jobs, mainly as a silversmith at a range of companies.

In the succeeding years, Vodicka 'transformed gold and silversmithing at RMIT into the leading course of its kind in Australia'. the daughter of poet, A.D. Hope, and Margaret Goldthorpe became the first women to enroll full time into the course.

Between 1962 and 1964 Vodicka doubled the intake of students, while reducing the numbers of part timers with the ambition and standard of work produced by the students leapt ahead. Throughout the 1960s, Vodicka expanded the course with more specialised subjects: design in 1963 and history of gold and silversmithing in 1964. inspired other acquisitive awards and together they represent a unique record of almost 60 years of student work at RMIT. Students were also encouraged to enter the Made in Australia Awards.''

Personal life and interests In 1953, Vodicka married an Australian and was naturalised as an Australian citizen in 1956. In the late 1950s, Vodicka renewed another passion from his native home when he was introduced to the pleasures of skiing and bushwalking in the Australian high country by fellow RMIT lecturer and Second World War artist, R.W. (Bill) Rowed. In 1959, Rowed took Vodicka to the Wangaratta Ski Club, which has its lodge at Mount St. Bernard near Mount Hotham in the Victorian Alps and he joined it shortly afterwards in 1960. Both men were foundation members of the Mount Bogong Club, which was formed in 1965 to promote the safe recreational use of Mount Bogong. He was also a regular visitor to the Sumava Centre At his request, his ashes were spread on his beloved Mount Bogong.