A message from the President, Jim Bertouch

Vol 40 no 1, Feb 2018
Article from Vol 40 no 1, Feb 2018

A message from the President, Jim Bertouch

Abstract:

In October this year, the Australiana Society will turn 40, and I am very pleased to announce that we will be recognising this important milestone in a number of different ways. However it is worthwhile remembering that when the Society was founded in 1978 there was very limited interest in Australian decorative arts. We should recognise and acknowledge the foresight of the small group of enthusiasts who came together because of a shared passion for Australiana. Ten people (with two apologies) attended the inaugural meeting which was held in Balmain in October 1978. The minutes of that meeting indicate that Michel Reymond was appointed as Chairman, Robert Hutchinson was the first President, Kevin Fahy and Don Tomsett were elected Vice presidents, Andy Simpson was elected as secretary/treasurer and John Wade and Jim Garaty were appointed as committee members. Remarkably, three of the founders, namely Andy, Michel and John, are still very much involved!

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The Australiana Society acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.