Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 10 : Record of press coverage, March 1982 - May 1984

The Courier-Mai l 29 Apri l 1983 ~istoric g·it't· lights up art gallery A STRIKING new bronze sculpture with special rele– vance for Queenslanders was illuminated in the out– door Sculpture Terrace or the Queensland Art Gallery last night. Entitled "Jemmy Morrill and The Brolgas" the work de– picts English seaman, James Morrill, who was shipwrecked on tho Great Barrier Reef in Wi• He stands between two b'.rot as, birds lonii regarded as IXI! ralia 's "nalive compan• ions". The work was sculpted by Lindsay Daen and presented 10 . the Queensland Art Gallery as a gift to the people of Queens• land from Pioneer Sugar Mills Limited, to commemorate the company's centenary. The Governor, Sir James Ramsay, who presided at last ni~ht'1 presentation ceremony, said that Pioneer Sugar Mills, in its choice of subject for the sculpture, had sought 10 forge an historic link with the com– pany's humble beginnings in the Burdekin where the part– nership of the Drysdale Broth• ers, who founded the company, wu scaled in 1883. "Mr Dacn wu personally recommended for the commi1- 1ion by hla 1ood friend and for- mer director of Pioneer Sugar Mills, the late Sir Russell Drysdale, one of the re– cognised masters of Australian art," Sir James said. The subject of the sculpture, Morrill, was one of four survi– vors from an ill-fated barque, the .Peruvian, shipwrecked at Minnerva Shoals, en route from Sydney to China. The four survived by eating sharks, oysters and anything they could find , before being "adopted" by friendly Aborigi– nal tribes. Morrill lived for 17 years among the Aboriginals of Cape Cleveland, near the pres• ent site ofTownsville. .. Four of his descendants, Mr Percy Jack and Mr Robert Jack from Brandon, North Queensland, and Mrs Mary Sherry and Mr Jeff Brereton of Brisbane, were at the Art Gallery last night, as was Lady Drysdale, widow of the late Sir Russell Drysdale. "Jemmy Morrill and The Brolgas" stands 2.75m high and spans 4.2m. The work was presented to the president of Queensland Art Gallery trustees, Mr Jus– tice Connolly, by the Pioneer Susar Mills chairman, Sir Jack Lcaao. ·,.,, ';, .. .. ... . , . . , . •.·· :;- .. . ~ I "'- ,. . , . , .. ,. , . "'' ~-, ' •• '-'""4 THE sculpture "Jemmy Morrill and tbe Brolps" lut Digbt with Morrill desceadants (from left) Mr Robert · Jack, Mrt Mary Shury, Mr Jeff Brereton aad Mr Percy Jack. Picture: MIKE MOORES I