Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

3 Vote of thanks at the opening of 'Gold of the Pharaohs', 16 August 1988 NOTE: THIS EXHIBITION WAS ORGANISED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL CORPORATION OF AUSTRALIA AND ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROBERT EDWARDS. IT CONSISTED OF PRICELESS TREASURES FROM THE TOMB OF THE EGYPTIAN PHARAOH PSUSENNES I ( I039-991 BC). IT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT EXHIBITION OF ITS TYPE EVER TO COME TO AUSTRALIA, SENT BY THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT AS A GESTURE OF GOODWILL FOR THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS. THE EXHIBITION ATTRACTED 140 563 VISITORS IN BRISBANE. THE EXHIBlrlON, SHOWN FROM 17 AUGUST TO 2 OCTOBER 1988, WAS ORGANISED BY THE MUSEUM OF VICTORIA IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES.' As number five in the speaking order, it is my pleasant duty to wind up this evening's opening ceremony by proposing, on behalf of the Trustees and staff of the Gallery, a vote of thanks to all those who have played a part in it or in the exhibition itself. It is, as you can imagine, a long list, and since I feel sure that you are all impatient to view the treasures that lie so close, I propose to deal with it with as much despatch as is consonant with my wish to acknowledge adequately the contributions made by all concerned. As you will have noted from your invitation card, this fantastic exhibition-and I use the word advisedly, because it does, indeed, make visible to us another and almost unimagined world-this fantastic exhibition, 'Gold of the Pharaohs', has been made possible by the Australian Wheat Board, presented by the Bank of America Australia Ltd, sponsored by Singapore Airlines and Australian Airlines, organised by the Museum of Victoria, with the assistance of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, managed by the International Cultural Corporation of Australia and indemnified by the Australian Government. To the representatives of all these organisations who are here tonight, I extend the Gallery's warm and sincere thanks. Although it does not get a mention in the introduction itself, I should also like to thank the Queensland Government, represented here tonight (in the unavoidable absence of our Premier) by the Hon. Ivan Gibbs, Minister for Transport, for its consistent support for the Gallery in general and for this exhibition in particular. It is fitting, I think, that an exhibition of this importance should have been opened by His Excellency the Governor-General and I thank Sir Ninian for honouring us with his presence here tonight and performing this task with his usual erudition and eloquence. On 14 April this year, Sir Ninian opened 'Masterpieces from the Louvre', a collection of superb French bronzes and paintings and, on that occasion, when introducing him, I said that it was the first time a Governor-General had opened an exhibition in this Gallery. If that was a 'first' for the Gallery, tonight, his second appearance here within four months, makes a 'double first', so to speak, and it marks a record that will, I have little doubt, stand for many years to come. I thank you, Sir Ninian, most sincerely for honouring us with your presence once again. 45