Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

Many an art lover would be prepared to say much the same thing about art. Bernard Shaw was even more emphatic. 'Without art', he said, 'the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable'. The Minister will no doubt tell you more about art and, in particular, about the paintings on display, and it is appropriate that he should do so. Mr Austin, you may recall, was the Minister for the Arts when the Queensland Art Gallery Act, No. 40 of 1987 made significant changes to the Gallery, its Board of Trustees and its management structure. Indeed, he opened the first exhibition at which I spoke as the new Chairman of Trustees. He quickly showed himself a good friend and supporter of the Gallery's efforts and initiatives. This interest and support did not diminish in the least when his portfolio was changed. As Minister for Finance he is, of course, in a unique position to help us. He did so in no small measure when the Queensland Government, in a gesture of generosity--of which, I am certain, no other Government in Australia would have been capable– made the Gallery a special grant of $2 million to purchase works from tbe___collection of the late Sir Leon and Lady Trout, so that some of the special treasures from that collection could remain in Queensland. That really was a memorable action on the Government's part. And now, it gives me great pleasure to call upon the Minister to address us and to open the Moet & Chandon Touring Exhibition. 13 Speech to introduce Mr John Livingstone, Managing Director, Swift & Moore, at the presentation of the 1990 Moet & Chandon Australian Art Fellowship, 20 February 1990 This evening we are privileged to experience what, I think, can safely be called a great confluence of excellence: a first among champagne makers-Meet & Chandon; a first among art sponsors, both in scope and in generosity-The Moet & Chandon Foundation; and, of course, a first among Lord Mayors, Alderman Sallyanne Atkinson, who has kindly agreed to open the exhibition. And this confluence is taking place in what some of us are egotistical enough to think is a first among galleries in this country. I had hoped that my duties this evening would include introducing the Lord Mayor, for whom I have deep and longstanding admiration, but Mr John Livingstone, the Managing Director of Swift & Moore, has claimed that pleasure for himself. Since I knew he was supplying the champagne, which we are now drinking, and, therefore, had the potential for retaliation in his hands, I felt it would be unwise to take issue with him on this matter. It is, however, my pleasant duty to introduce Mr Livingstone and to say something about Moet & Chandon. If any other champagne maker disputes the primacy of this illustrious firm, it has only to be said that the original of the statue of Dom Perignon who, you will remember, was the founding father of all champagnes, stands in the forecourt of the 131