EDITED SPEECH OF MR ANTHONY HOWARD QC DELIVERED AT THE OPENING OF THE ART OF BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION – A NEW DIRECTION EXHIBITION Friday 14 October 2016

Professor the Honourable AC, former Governor of , and Mrs Jan de Kretser Ms Sally Hirst, President of the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Inc Mr Maurice Castro, Secretary of and representing the Friends’ Trust Fund Professor Tony Bacic FAA, Director of and representing the Board of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Distinguished guests Ladies and Gentlemen

I send warmest greetings from my wife Governor Linda Dessau. Unfortunately she has lost her voice and regrets she is unable to deliver her proposed speech and meet with you after the formalities. Whilst she is absolutely complying with her doctor’s orders, don’t worry, her indisposition is only temporary, so my present advantage will not last for long! I only resigned as a judge last week so I could be more involved in our community activities - after 10 years on the bench and 33 years practising criminal law - but I did not expect to be thrown in the deep end so soon!

First, in the spirit of reconciliation with our indigenous community, I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we are gathering and pay my respects to their elders past and present and to any elders here with us this evening.

It is a pleasure for me to open this Exhibition on behalf of the Governor. There are three particular reasons why I am delighted to do so.

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First, we are of course neighbours nowadays, and particularly conscious of the shared history of

Government House and the Royal Botanic Gardens. The first director of the then named Melbourne

Botanic Gardens, in the mid-nineteenth century, Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, was instrumental in the landscaping of the gardens at Government House. As was his successor, William Guilfoyle.

Both gardens owe much to Guilfoyle. We are reminded of that on a daily basis as we look out to the

Western Lawn at Government House and the city beyond, a trademark of Guilfoyle’s affection for scenic panoramas and sweeping views.

Might I just add how beautiful both our gardens are at this time of year! We moved into Government

House last year in winter. Although the garden does have a stark beauty in winter, the joy of watching it awaken in spring is a joy to behold. However, there is still so much to discover.

Secondly, of course, the Governor is Patron of the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens and it is appropriate to recognise the great work of that organisation at this event. The work of the Friends – a group 2000 strong - cannot be lauded enough. The gardens that so many millions of locals and visitors enjoy – and learn from – simply could not be maintained without the generous financial and volunteering contribution of the Friends.

The Governor and I have been the direct beneficiaries of the work of the volunteers. When we walk through the gardens – as we frequently do - we are sometimes approached by guides who willingly share their knowledge about the gardens or some particularly beautiful tree or plant. The joy of such personal connection with the gardens is beautifully captured by the following extract about its staff from the Board’s Corporate Plan which applies equally to the volunteers –

“Our work is transformational; it is also about people.

It contributes to the lives of people and is healing,

restorative, life-giving and even spiritual; a sense of being

connected in some way to the patterns of life which transcend our own current lifetime.”

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Thirdly, it is a pleasure to see the magnificent work on display at this Exhibition. It is a fine example of the major fundraising initiative of the Friends, but also a testament to the talent, artistry and botanical knowledge within the group.

This biennial Exhibition was born in the 1990’s, when the wealth of talent amongst our Victorian botanical illustrators was recognised. The likes of Anita Barley, Jenny Phillips, Celia Rosser and

Margaret Stones have all been instrumental in establishing the Exhibition’s reputation. While the first Exhibition in 1992 displayed the works of 30 artists, today 150 paintings are selected from over

350 entries, involving 75 artists from Victoria and around the world.

The Governor and I congratulate everyone involved, and thank you for your work and we look forward to our continuing relationship with the Friends in the years to come.

Finally, a significant question arises as to how best to launch an art exhibition! I can hardly smash a bottle of champagne against such beautiful and valuable paintings. It’s probably best if I just wish you all well, and on behalf of the Governor declare with pleasure “The Art of Botanical Illustration

2016 Exhibition: A New Direction” OFFICIALLY OPEN!

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