Reginald Thomas Parker 
The Story Behind the Name

Reg Parker’s career in the building industry is a long and colourful one. Welsh born, but Australian bred, Reg served with the Royal Australian Air Force during WWII with the 460 Lancaster Squadron in England when, on discharge, he enrolled in the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme, completing his career as a carpenter.

Reg then began his career in the building industry, travelling from job to job on a two-stroke motorbike with his tools strapped to his back.

Originally Reg worked with the one builder until he decided it was time to branch out on his own and R.T. Parker Pty Ltd was born.

Working out of an office in his own back yard Reg, his business partner and their staff, mainly built architecturally designed residences, before turning to the more challenging and high profile commercial and industrial projects when the early partnership dissolved.

The next move was to Sandgate in 1975. Establishing larger offices with a storage yard to match the increase volume of work. This remained in operation for the next 25 years.

In 1952 shortly after the formation of the company, Reg was invited to join the Master Builders Association. In 1958 Reg became a councillor and held that position with the MBA for the next 29 years. In this time Reg served in all the executive positions and was the MBA President for 1973 and 1974. In 1983 he was appointed a Trustee of the Association, and in 1986 was awarded Life Membership.

Reg is a Fellow and Chartered Builder of the Australian Institute of Building, serving as its Newcastle President for a number of years. It was during this time that he proposed to members the idea of establishing a degree course in building at the University of Newcastle. A proposal that turned into a nine-year crusade for Reg, which finally, after surmounting many obstacles and with the help of fellow member Brian Compton, resulted in the implementation of the Building and Construction Management degree course.

Reg was appointed to the inaugural advisory committee to the course and served a number of years before retiring when the degree course was finally and duly, established.

In recognition of Reg’s work both in service to the Building Industry and his dedication in establishing the degree course for the future generations of youth in our area, the University of Newcastle presented Reg with an honorary degree of Master of Construction Management in 1997.

In addition to his above activities, Reg was also active in arbitration and was a foundation member and Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators.