Page 1544 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 March 2012
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federal administration in Canberra to the contemporary regime of territory government. I was pleased that Peter Corlett was able to join us on Friday. Members would be familiar with Mr Corlett’s sculptures of Simpson and his Donkey and Weary Dunlop, which are at the War Memorial here in Canberra.
We heard from Minister Barr at the unveiling a bit about Mr Corlett’s creative process. He begins his activities by studying photographic and moving images of his subjects. He uses a life model dressed in period costume as well.
We were also fortunate to be joined at the unveiling by Heather Henderson, the daughter of Sir Robert Menzies, her husband Peter and members of the Menzies family, who provided valuable advice and feedback during the development of the project. Ms Henderson spoke very well about her father’s love of walking around our national capital and expressed great pride on behalf of her father about the wonderful paths that we now have in Canberra, particularly around Lake Burley Griffin.
Indeed it was under Menzies’ second term as Prime Minister that Canberra’s community grew from 28,000 in 1954 to 93,000 in 1966. A number of significant cultural institutions, including the National Library and the Canberra Theatre Centre, were founded during that period, and Lake Burley Griffin in 1964.
On Monday evening the government unveiled another instalment of public art, the Droplet in Woden, by sculptor Stuart Green. Actew Corporation Chairman John Mackay unveiled that. The artist was invited along with others to create something specific to the area. The building owners, Mirvac, were delighted that the work is adjacent to their building and senior executives travelled from Sydney to attend the launch last night. In fact last night as I was driving home from the ACT cricket awards, which was a very good night, you could see that installation, Droplet, in full form and under lights, and it really is quite a spectacular installation.
It has been a busy week for the arts team. We have unveiled some works of art. I look forward to the remaining works in the public art program in the coming months.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, a supplementary question.
MR HARGREAVES: Minister, in relation to the statue of Sir Robert Menzies, what action did you take to ensure the involvement of all parties at the Menzies launch and what response did you get?
MS BURCH: I do thank Mr Hargreaves for the question. It is custom, for many ACT government functions, to invite all members of the Assembly and, if relevant, the federal members as well. However, the launch of Sir Robert Menzies was one that the ACT government was particularly interested to have bipartisan support for, because we know that Menzies holds a particular significance for the Liberal Party, and we expected a strong interest from the Canberra Liberals.
I am advised that all MLAs and local federal members were invited and an invitation was also extended to the federal opposition leader, Tony Abbott, and Prime Minister Julia Gillard, but both declined due to prior commitments. Ms Henderson suggested
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