Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

I thank all these companies for their assistance. I am glad to see that representatives from Idemitsu, Japan Travel Bureau and Louis Vuitton are present this evening and I extend our thanks to them: Mr Nagano from Idemitsu, Mr Abe from JTB and Mrs Julia King from Louis Vuitton. Once again, this dinner-the most important social event in the Gallery's calendar– has been sponsored by Coopers and Lybrand, and to Mr Richard Anderson, a Partner in that distinguished firm, I should like to convey our sincere thanks ... I have already mentioned the vital role of the Foundation and the Government in the life of the Gallery. Sir Bruce Watson has, for many years, been an outstanding President of the Foundation, following in the great footsteps of Sir George Fisher who, I am happy to see, is with us tonight. The Treasurer, the Hon. Keith De Lacy, by his presence here tonight, and by what he has said, has served to remind us of his Government's generous and favourable attitude towards the Gallery. I thank both the President and the Treasurer most warmly. And last, but certainly not least, I want to thank His Excellency, the Governor, Sir Walter Campbell, who is a Member of the Foundation himself, for once again coming here with Lady Campbell and presenting the certificates of membership. This Dinner would not be the same without him. In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I should just like to say to you that this is the one occasion of the year on which all of those who have the best interests of the Gallery at heart gather together to celebrate and to enjoy themselves. I thank you all for being here tonight and I ask you to show your appreciation for our benefactors in the usual way. 8 Vote of thanks at the Queensland Art Gallery Foundadon's Fourteenth Annual Dinner, 13 April 1993 Those of you who have heard me speak in the Gallery in the past-and that, I expect, means most of you-will know that it is not my custom to begin my speech with a story. I propose, however, to do so tonight-for two reasons. First, because I feel it is too late in the day for another serious speech; and, second, I want to follow the practice suggested in a new book called The Servant, written by Lord MacAlpine, usually, but incorrectly, referred to in the local press as Lord Alistair. This is really a re-hash of Baldessare Castiglione's book, The Courtier. Both books give guidance on behaviour, the one to courtiers and the other to public servants, the only difference being that, on the whole, the Italian puts it all rather more elegantly. 'Follow the example of your prince in everything', he writes, 'but do not seek to surpass him in anything'. For 'prince', of course, read 'minister'. When the Minister and I, and also the Minister for Transport (who is here tonight), were all on the platform together a month or so ago, the Minister told a very good story involving transport and horsepower.' My story involves transport and the visual arts. Given the ground rule, however, you must not expect my story to be as good as his. 124