Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

Sir Edward Williams, Chairman of the Queensland Turf Club, and I welcome him most warmly. I am sorry his brother, Sir Sydney Williams, Chairman of the corresponding Club in Cairns, which is running another Toulouse-Lautrec meeting in September, is not also present. Between the two of them, they will have put on three meetings specially designed to promote the Gallery-a record in racing history in any country. And on the subject of promoting the Galley, I think the entire staff of the Gallery deserve our very special thanks and praise for the manner in which they have, each in their own way, helped to present the exhibition so splendidly. Finally, I should like to thank the speechmakers: Mr Whitlam, who opened the exhibition with the brilliance which we are accustomed to expect of him; and the Premier, Mr Goss, who reminded us once again how much this Gallery owes to him as Minister for the Arts, both spiritually and financially. Of His Excellency the French Ambassador's elegant speech, let me say just this. One of Britain's leading historians, A.J.P. Taylor, once expressed the opinion that all Englishmen, deep in their hearts, would like to be Frenchmen. Naturally, this suggestion did not receive universal acceptance, but I must admit that, after hearing Monsieur Baude address us and after seeing the exhibition, A.J.P. Taylor certainly had a point, especially for those who would have been able to take full advantage of La Belle Epoque. That is all, you will be glad to know. Please enjoy this celebratory dinner a La Belle Epoque. 12 Speech to welcome and to thank the Chairman and International Council of the Museum of Modern Art, New York and to introduce Mr Richard Woolcott, AO to open 'Seven Master Printmakers: Innovations in the Eighties', 14 April 1992 NOTE: THIS EXHIBITION WAS LAUNCHED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK, WHO WERE IN AUSTRALIA FOR THEIR ANNUAL MEETING. FIFTY-FIVE EXCEPTIONAL PRINTS TOURED AUSTRALIA UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE COUNCIL AND THE EXHIBITION WAS SHOWN FROM 15 APRIL TO 31 MAY 1992. THE EXHIBITION CONSISTED OF THE WORK OF SEVEN OUTSTANDING MODERN PRINTMAKERS-JIM DINE, DAVID HOCKNEY, JASPER JOHNS, ROY LICHTENSTEIN, ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG, JAMES ROSENQUIST AND FRANK STELLA I have three very pleasant duties to perform this evening: to thank Sir Brian Urquhart, Chairman of the International Council of the Museum of Modem Art in New York; to welcome him and the other members of the Council, as well as the Director, Mr Richard Oldenberg, and his Museum staff to the Queensland Art Gallery; and to introduce Mr Richard Woolcott, AO, who has kindly agreed to open the exhibition of 'Seven Master Printmakers'. I need hardly say that this is a very special occasion for the Gallery. It is the first time that the International Council has visited us; it is the first time that a Head of our Foreign Service has opened an exhibition for us; and it is the first time that a former 75