5 Malakoff Street, North Caulfield, Vic, 3161 Telephone: (61 3) 9509 9855 Facsimile: (61 3) 9509 4549 Email:
[email protected] Website: www.diggins.com.au ABN.19006 457 101 L A U R A I N E · D I G G I N S · F I N E · A R T Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Lauraine Diggins OAM Monday 17th June 2019, The Pavilion, Arts Centre Melbourne TRIBUTES MC: Ruth Lovell, manager, Lauraine Diggins Fine Art Acknowledgement of Country: Professor Margo Neale, Senior Curator and Principal Indigenous Advisor, National Museum of Australia Speakers: Ms Lin Oke, O.T. Group Dr Daniel Thomas, Emeritus Director Art Gallery of South Australia Ms Antonia Syme, Director, Australian Tapestry Workshop Mr Adrian Newstead, Founding Director, Cooee Art Mr Steve Dimopoulos MP, Member for Oakleigh Mr Gerard Vaughan, former Director National Gallery of Australia Ms Anne-Marie Schwirtlich, former Director National Library of Australia (delivered by Nerida Blanche, daughter of Lauraine Diggins) Mr Michael Blanche, husband of Lauraine Diggins Tribute to Lauraine Diggins by Ms Lin Oke Reflections Occupational Therapy Back in 1965, 42 of us 17 and 18 year olds, from around Victoria started our journey into the Occupational therapy profession. Strong bonds of friendship developed amongst us. Lauraine stood out – vivacious, full of fun, elegant, tall – with those long legs that resulted in some of us calling her Lolly Legs. Following Lauraine’s passing we shared our memories and smiled on our reflections. I’m pleased to share some of these reflections with you today. One of our group summed up the closeness of Course 18 in this way: “In 1965 the small campus of the OT School at 33 Lansell Road provided an intimate atmosphere favourable for the development of strong bonds.