Bringing Spanish life to Tuggeranong
The Chronicle (Canberra)
19 September 2006

REG Park is no stranger to life in the public eye. He was Australia's male figure skating champion in 1949 and had a long and highly successful career in England and Europe starring in and choreographing a number of popular ice shows. In the 1980s Reg came to Canberra to set up the ice skating program at the Phillip Ice Rink. This was intended to be a temporary move, but Reg liked it so much here that he made it his home.

Reg has coached dozens of Canberra's ice stars including, Miriam Manzano who is the current Australian Woman Champion Figure Skater. These days Reg continues to coach a few young skaters and travels with them to national and international competitions. In 2003 Reg lost his Chapman home in the bushfires. He featured in the George Negus TV series 'After the Fires' following the

Canberra firestorm in 2003 and spent some time grappling with the traumas of rebuilding a life swept away by fire. He lost all of his skating memorabilia and was gratified to receive copies of some special programs and photographs from people who saw the series. Since 2003, Reg has rebuilt his house and continues to lead an active life in the ACT cultural scene.

A quieter and generally less public pursuit is Reg's painting. Encouraged by a large commission of his water colours of the fire, Reg has continued to develop as a visual artist and has participated in a number of exhibitions with his local watercolour painting group. Fuego, Reg's latest exhibition, will be officially opened by Dr Jose{aac} Pablo Alzina, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Spain, on Friday, September 22 at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre.