Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

6 Personal awards and farewell speeches Richard Austin retired as Chairman of Trustees at the Queensland Art Gallery on 5 May 1995. He had been Chairman for eight years. Mr Austin provided invaluable guidance during a period of considerable development and played a key role in the Gallery's focus towards Asia. This was articulated by the establishment of the Queensland Art Gallery Exhibitions Development Fund, the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, the ARCO Gallery of Asian Art, and the Kenneth and Yasuko Myer Collection of Contemporary Art. Brisbane's Courier-Mail on 16 April 1995 reported on the impending departure of Richard Austin: 'He leaves the Gallery content that it is fulfilling its role as a place for intellectual and aesthetic stimulation for the public. "An art gallery should not have the atmosphere of a cathedral. It should be a friendly place where people of all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life can come and be happy. I think we achieved that": During his time as Chairman of Trustees, Richard Austin was awarded the degree of Doctor of the University by Griffith University Faculties of Humanities and Asian and International Studies ( 1993), and the Order of the Rising Sun (Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon) by the Emperor of Japan ( 1995), for his contribution to Australia– Japan relations. Following his retirement as Chairman of Trustees, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 1996 Australia Day Honours, for his service to the arts and international relations. He had already been honoured by the British Government in 1982 as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Occasional address at the Graduation Ceremony, Griffith University, Faculties of Humanities and Asian and International Studies on the occasion of the conferral upon him of the degree of Doctor of the University, 2 April 1993 NOTE: RICHARD AUSTIN SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY COUNCIL FROM 1984 TO 1990. DURING THIS TIME HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF AUSTRALIA-ASIA RELATIONS AND OF THE WORKS OF ART COMMITTEE, AND WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE NATHAN HOUSING CO. WHICH ADMINISTERS STUDENT ACCOMMODATION IN TOOHEY VILLAGE. 160