Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

And now, ladies and gendemen, it remains for me to introduce the Premier. I know he will forgive me for having devoted to other themes some of the time that I should, perhaps, have devoted to his introduction. In this Gallery, however, and to this audience, he is now so well known, as a committed and consistent supporter of the arts in Queensland, that a formal introduction would, I feel, be superfluous. Let me just say that we are extremely fortunate to have him as our Minister for the Arts and that we are grateful to him for his readiness, despite a very exacting schedule at all times, to open so many exhibitions for us. He chose today's date himself and this, in itself, is significant. On this day ninety– four years ago, 29 March 1895, the Queensland- Art Gallery, as the Queensland National Gallery, was opened by the then Governor, Sir Henry Wylie Norman. The Premier is, indeed, part of a great tradition. And now, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to ask him to address us and to open this exhibition. 5 Speech to thank Mr Jack Manton and to introduce His Excellency the Govemor of Queensland, Sir Walter Campbell, AC,QC to open 'The Jack Manton Exhibition 1989', 11 July 1989 NOTE: THIS EXHIBITION WAS THE SECOND JACK MANTON EXHIBITION (THE FIRST BEING IN 1987) AND WAS SHOWN FROM 12 JULY TO 27 AUGUST 1989. PRESENTED THROUGH THE GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP OF ITS PATRONS, MR AND MRS MANTON, THE EXHIBITION ENABLED VISITORS TO THE GALLERY TO SEE SOME OF THE FINEST CONTEMPORARY PAINTINGS BY AUSTRALIA'S BEST KNOWN, MID AND LATE CAREER ARTISTS. MRS MANTON WAS AT THAT TIME A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE GALLERY. THE WORK OF TWELVE ARTISTS WAS SHOWN AND THE WORKS PURCHASED BY THE GALLERY WERE: BEA MADDOCK, TROMEMANNER-FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASS I-IV 1988-89; ANDREW SIBLEY, THE SYDNEY PANEL: INCIDENT AT CABRAMATTA 1989; JEFFREY SMART, THE RESERVOIR. CENTENNIAL PARK, 1988. On behalf of the Trustees and staff of the Queensland Art Gallery, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you this evening to the Jack Manton Exhibition 1989. Iwant to extend an especially warm welcome to His Excellency the Governor, who has kindly agreed to open the exhibition, and to those artists whose works are hanging on the walls and who have, therefore, played a major role in making the exhibition possible. Those of you who have already seen the paintings will, I feel sure, agree that this is an exhibition of exceptionally high quality and great interest, and for those of you who have not, a splendid visual experience is in store. But we are here this evening not only to view and enj~y the exhibition, but also to pay tribute to Jack Manton himself, as a most consistent and generous patron of the Gallery and, incidentally but importantly, to celebrate his eighty-second birthday which falls at one minute past midnight or thereabouts. 64