Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

3 The role of a State Gallery (111) Other exhibitions 1988-95: Consolidation Expo and post-Expo I Speech to introduce the Premier, the Hon. Mike Ahem, on the occasion of the openings of 'Journeys North' and 'East Coast Discoveries: The Flora of Cook's Endeavour Voyage', 28 January 1988 NOTE: THESE TWO EXHIBITIONS WERE OPENED SEPARATELY BUT ON THE SAME OCCASION, 'JOURNEYS NORTH' BY THE PREMIER, WHO WAS INTRODUCED BY MR AUSTIN, AND 'EAST COAST DISCOVERIES' BY DR GRAHAM ALEXANDER, WHO WAS INTRODUCED BY DR JOHN TRACE, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARY BOARD OF QUEENSLAND. 'JOURNEYS NORTH' MARKED THE BEGINNING OF A NUMBER OF EXHIBITIONS CELEBRATING THE AUSTRALIAN BICENTENARY. IT WAS SHOWN FROM 26 JANUARY TO 13 MARCH 1988. THE WORKS OF THE SIX AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHERS SELECTED, WHICH COMPRISED THE EXHIBITION, BECAME PART OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION OF THE GALLERY. 'EAST COAST DISCOVERIES' WAS OPENED ON THE SAME OCCASION AS 'JOURNEYS NORTH' AND WAS SHOWN FROM 26 JANUARY TO 17 APRIL 1988. IT COMPRISED EIGHTY EXQUISITE PRINTS OF SPECIMENS OF AUSTRALIAN FLORA COLLECTED BY SIR JOSEPH BANKS AND DR DANIEL SOLANDER ON THE HISTORIC ENDEAVOUR VOYAGE OF I770. THE EXHIBITION WAS PRESENTED BY THE STATE LIBRARY OF QUEENSLAND IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY IN CELEBRATION OF THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR AND TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE NEW STATE LIBRARY OF QUEENSLAND. The double opening this evening of two important exhibitions-'Journeys North' and 'East Coast Discoveries'-one depicting our rural present, the other our floral past– is a very special occasion. It not only marks the beginning of the Gallery's involvement in this historic Bicentennial Year- year which holds out the promise of great artistic interest and excitement for all of us-but it is also the first occasion on which we have had the privilege of welcoming the new Premier of Queensland to the Gallery. And this I now do with all possible warmth on behalf of the Board of Trustees, the Director and the entire staff. 57