Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

The Premier has graciously agreed to open 'Journeys North' and for that, knowing full well the heavy pressures on his time and energy, we are deeply grateful. It is my pleasant responsibility this evening to introduce him to you. Before doing so, however, I should like, with your indulgence, to say a few words about the year that lies ahead. There will be five major exhibitions in the Gallery in 1988, beginning with 'The Inspired Dream-Life as Art in Aboriginal Australia'; followed by 'Masterpi_eces from the Louvre', 'The Great Australian Art Exhibition', and 'A Study in Genius' (the latter being fifty drawings from the Royal Ubrary at Windsor Casde), and ending with 'The Ceramic Traditions of Japan', from the Idemitsu Collection in Tokyo. There may well be a sixth which, if it eventuates, will provide us with an unforgettable experience. About that I shall say no more.' Next week there will be a showing of the ANZ Bank's Bicentennial art commissions, of which this Gallery's share will be paintings by William Robinson. These will serve to remind us that William Robinson was the recent winner of the Archibald Prize with his equestrian portrait of himself as a bucolic Napoleon and that he is a Queenslander. There will be the opening of the State Library in its new premises just up the river as the final addition to the cultural Centre, and this will take place not long before the retirement of Mr Laurie Ryan after some eighteen years of service as State Ubrarian. I should like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Gallery, of paying a most sincere tribute for his dedication and assistance. And finally, the year will soon see the unveiling, by the Premier, of the Gallery's latest acquisition, Bathers by Rupert Bunny, a majestic painting of arresting and spectacular beauty. Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island and many other books of nostalgic adventure, is credited with having said that it is sometimes better to travel hopefully than to arrive, and this is equally true of journeys of the mind. Realisation sometimes does fall short of anticipation. But in the case of this painting, it does not. When you see it, I assure you, you will judge that the journey has been worthwhile. The presence of our Premier here this evening brings back to mind something that I heard said years ago when I was a Trustee of the National Gallery of Victoria. The occasion was a very elegant reception for what, I suppose, you could call the arts establishment, hosted by the Premier-it was, you will appreciate, in the days when Victoria was the southern bastion of anti-Socialism. The guest of honour was a distinguished British educationalist and diplomat, Lord Redcliffe-Maud. In his speech in reply to the Premier's welcome, he said that the Melbourne gallery was the luckiest gallery in the world. It had a Minister for the Arts who was also Premier and a Premier who was also Treasurer. In other words, Arts proposes, Premier disposes, Treasury imposes. What could be betterl Well, actually, it is better here in Queensland, as is so often the case. We, too, have an Arts Minister who is Premier and a Premier who is Treasurer. But we also have a former Arts Minister who, in his day, was a staunch ally of the Gallery as Minister for Finance and he will, I am pleased to hear, be assisting the Premier in matters pertaining to the arts. The Gallery is fortunate in having these two men, Mr Ahem and Mr Austin, so closely associated with it and moreover, in now having both a Government and a Public Service so supportive of the arts in general. 58