Last month I introduced (briefly) the two new members of the Friends Committee for 2002—Claudia Hyles and Jenny Gleeson. I can now tell you that following a second term as Chair, and after a very successful year, Warwick Bradney has stepped down (though not from the Committee) and has been replaced by Ian Dudgeon.
Ian was the major organiser of last year's Army Centenary seminar in March and is now orchestrating a similar but more ambitious Friends event, ‘Encountering Indigenous Australia: Researching Historical and Contemporary Issues’, which will be held at the Library on the weekend 13–14 April. The seminar will involve unique displays from the Library's Collection, cultural performances, and presentations by a wide range of experts on Indigenous matters from both the Indigenous and wider Australian community. Those who attend the seminar will gain an expanded insight into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander thought and social and cultural issues, while participating in an event that is contributing to the Reconciliation process. §§§ Something
new! §§§ The first real function of the year will be ‘At Home with Dymphna and Manning Clark’. Not surprisingly it will be held at Manning Clark House, home to the late distinguished historian, his scholarly wife and their large family. We invite you to take early evening refreshments in the garden before gathering informally to listen to Roslyn Russell talk about the work of the Clarks, their place in Canberra’s academic life between the 1950s and the 1990s and the house itself, designed by architect Robin Boyd. Roslyn was the curator of last year’s Belonging exhibition to mark the nation’s centenary, and as Manning Clark’s research assistant came to know the family well. This will be a fascinating though very relaxed summer occasion, but please note—you must book (see details in the calendar). §§§ You have all heard or read thousands of words about the Library’s Treasures from the World’s Great Libraries exhibition, due to close towards the end of this month, and I’m sure that all of them were good. It is a stunning exhibition—the biggest and most successful since the Library opened its Ground Floor Gallery 11 years ago. The Friends of the National Library support the Library’s aim of establishing its own Treasures Gallery (hence the $25 000 gift to the Library last year). This struck an empathetic chord with many visitors to the Treasures exhibition; consequently we have seen a sharp increase in applications to join the Friends. Together with seasonal gift memberships (gifts that last the whole year for the recipient) the new memberships have kept my assistant, Jenny Sawer, very busy over the holiday period. Stay tuned for the year ahead. We hope to bring you afternoon tea with Tim Bonyhady, the curator of the Library’s exhibition, Burke & Wills—From Melbourne to Myth soon after the show opens in March. And we are busy planning a full year of events (some with a twist) for you! Lee Kirwan |
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