Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

surprising because this is more than just a special occasion, it is a unique occasion. It marks the first of the great exhibitions from another country that will be shown in this Gallery during the course of the Bicentennial and Expo year and, in the case of this exhibition, in this Gallery only and in no other. It marks the first time an exhibition from the Louvre has come to Queensland. And, finally, it marks the first time that an exhibition has been opened by a Governor-General in office. This is a source of great pride to all of us in the Gallery and a source of great pleasure to me personally, because in introducing Sir Ninian Stephen, it gives me an opportunity to do something I have always wanted to do--to sing the praises in public of a man I have long admired in private. Sir Ninian may not thank me for this because he is one of those rarest of mortals– a modest man who has nothing to be modest about. That he has had a distinguished career will be known to all of you-Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Judge of the High Court of Australia, Governor-General of Australia and the recipient of four separate Orders of Knighthood. These achievements speak for themselves. He is not only a man with a distinguished career, but also a distinguished man. And that is not always the same thing. I like to think that he is the kind of man that Lord Chancellor Bacon had in mind when he wrote in his famous essay on studies: 'Reading maketh a full man, writing an exact man, conference a ready man: Sir Ninian is, indeed, all three of these men. In addition, he possesses the gravitas so prized by the ancient Romans and the virtues and morals required to qualify for kalos kagathos in ancient Athens. By reason not only of his high office but also of his known qualities, he rightly deserves to be called the first gendeman of Australia. Since becoming the Governor-General he has constandy flown high the flag of Australian civilisation, both in this country and abroad. It is appropriate therefore that it should be Sir Ninian who is opening this exhibition from la douce France, that country which, above all others, has upheld and propagated the values of European civilisation throughout the world-in language, in literature, in art, in manners, in enjoyment, in elegance; indeed, in all things. It now gives me great pleasure to ask His Excellency the Governor-General to address us and to open the exhibition. 2 Speech to introduce the Hon. Brian Austin, Minister for Finance, to open 'The Great Australian Art Exhibition 1788-1988', 16 May 1988 NOTE: THIS EXHIBITION, SHOWN FROM 17 MAY TO 17 JULY 1988, WAS THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF AUSTRALIAN ART EVER COMPILED. SPONSORED BY BORAL LTD, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE CHANNEL SEVEN NETWORK AND SUPPORTED BY AUSTRALIAN AIRLINES, IT BROUGHT TOGETHER MANY OF THE TREASURES AND ICONS OF AUSTRALIAN ART, DRAWN FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN AUSTRALIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES. IT PROVIDED THE FIRST 43