Playwright and life member of The Arcadians Tom Pickard, founder of Theatre South Des Davis and former Illawarra Performing Arts Centre board member John Martin, all passed away within days of each other.

Merrigong Theatre Company artistic director Simon Hinton said all three had made a great contribution to Wollongong.

“Des’s contribution over so many years with Theatre South, pioneering that regional threatre company … certainly Merrigong’s foundation has really built on it in the last 10 years,” Hinton said.

“While John Martin has been a great supporter of culture … and our company.”

Martin, an ex-WIN TV news editor, also had a love for flying. When QANTAS began their frequent flyer program he was asked to be their first member.

Hinton said he was a “real character” and still kept in touch with a lot of former staff who had moved on to larger theatre companies.

“He was much loved by generations of Merrigong staff,” he said.

Phoenix Theatre director Steen said he found out about the passing of his former mentor, Davis, minutes before entering a Wollongong City Council meeting earlier this week.

That meeting was to determine the fate of the Coniston theatre building they use, which was previously occupied by Theatre South.

“Part of the thing with saving it was to keep the vision from when he started it alive,” Steen said.

“Des was an absolute visionary. He drove a lot of people mad because he had a vision and followed it. The man will always live in my heart as someone who had a dream for the arts and theatre in Wollongong.”

He said the Phoenix was trying to find some way to honour Davis now the company had bought the theatre building from council.

Meantime, tributes have been flowing in The Arcadians circle for the man who always had a “twinkle in his eye” and wanted to use his theatre knowledge to better others.

Friend Patricia Green wrote a heartfelt tribute on the company’s Facebook group. She noted many memorable achievements of Pickard including his biggest feat, directing “Les Miserable” in 1993.

“What a swan song to finish with!” Green wrote.

“It is still discussed all these years later as a wonderful production.

“His passing marks the end of a wonderful era in theatre for the Illawarra and we are in his debt for his commitment and devotion to creative art and to Arcadians.”