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Warm appreciation was in the room when Keith Adkins and Sandy Campbell called ‘time’ on their active roles aboard the QVMAG Arts Foundation back in March. More than 40 Arts Foundation members gathered ‘off campus’ at Stelo at Pierre’s in Launceston to raise a glass of Tassie sparkling in recognition of these volunteer stalwarts. Along with Kenneth von Bibra, Sandy and Keith were founding members of the Arts Foundation back in 1985.
In the intervening years both have served as chairs of the Foundation, and have been members of the QVMAG Governance Board. Sandy, who was chair from 2009 to 2014, remains Patron of the Foundation. Keith has twice been chair, first in 2004-2009 and then again in 2015-2017. For 76 years collectively, Sandy and Keith have given guidance, knowledge and friendship to harness volunteer and philanthropic support to enable the QVMAG to commission and acquire art works, of both Tasmanian and national significance.
It was a thrill that MLC for Rosevears Jo Palmer and City of Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten could join in the celebrations to present specially struck medallions to both Keith and Sandy, in recognition of this dynamic duo’s contribution to QVMAG in so many ways. The medallion depicts Tasmanian native hens, designed on commission by Michael McWilliams. Native hens were chosen because of the bird’s lack of recognition as an endemic species.
As current Chair Jennie Caswell said on the day: ‘Sandy and Keith have both been Chairs of the QVMAG Arts Foundation for considerable periods of time, and as the current chair I am in the fortunate position of thanking and congratulating them for generosity of personal time and commitment. They have brought knowledge, expertise and they have helped develop and define us as an Arts Foundation with continuity and focus.
‘With Sandy and Keith as Chairs, and resilient Foundation committee fund-raising efforts and donor funds, an enormous number of major works have been acquired, and in 2012, we saw the inception of the Masterpiece for Tasmania program.
‘These works have been recently quoted as being “some of the crown jewels in the Museum’s art collection”.’
Among the guests were Manager of QVMAG Cultural and Creative Services and QVMAG Director Tracy Puklowski, Glover Award - winning artist Michael McWilliams, QVMAG Manager Knowledge and Content Christine Hansen, Robyn and Lucinda Hawkins, Ian and Susan Routley, Eric Ratcliff, Lyn Henshaw, Jill Ferrall, and recently retired Arts Foundation Board members Janet Tomlinson and Anne Moulden.
With this gathering drawing many plaudits for ‘easy, warm hospitality’, and the delicious canapé menu offered by Stelo, the Arts Foundation events committee will look to host other events ‘off campus’ as a means to ‘spread the word’ about its purpose, activities and achievements.