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Top.-Beaming Shirley Collins , flanked by celebrated Territory artist, Harold Thomas , on the right , and his son , also Harold, the night of the launch. Above.- Collins with Administrator, the late Commodore Eric Johnston; Lady Renouf having a warm conversation with Shirley’s sister, Barbara Nasir . Bill Baird, Shirley’s brother, is on the left of this snap
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Behind the scenes details of this glittering event are told here for the first time. A letter had been sent to Lady Renouf’s prominent agent, Kiwi Harry M. Miller , in Sydney, asking if she could officiate. Much to everyones surprise and delight, she agreed to come to Darwin.
Collins took out a $10,000 bank loan on the strength of this to cover the event and a flight and accommodation package deal was arranged with Ansett . Then an airline strike hit the nation and it looked as if the event , set down for September 3, 1989 , would have to be postponed. In an obvious tight corner, Shirley approached the RAAF base in Darwin and asked if they could possibly uplift Lady Renouf. The RAAF came back and said yes, a Hercules transport would be coming this way and Lady Renouf should be advised to wear thermal underwear as it would be cold in the plane.
Through dealings with the British magnate, Lord Alistair McAlpine, who had bought up a large part of Broome and established a high class resort at Cable Beach , Collins invited him to the exhibition. Describing him as a "wonderful man," Collins said he had long bought from her , interested in Tiwi art, particularly that of Declan Apuatimi. He telephoned her on receiving the invite and said, "You must be joking?"... firmly stating he was only interested in cultural art, not modern, western- style painting , which made up the Thomas offering .
Collins insisted they were exceptional paintings,with Territory scenes and subjects , and that he should consider buying some of them for Cable Beach and other properties. Lord McAlpine, the British Tory treasurer, who bought much Australiana, including early rustic furniture and objects , took her advice , flew over from Broome in his private Learjet for a pre -opening viewing , the exhibition not yet properly hung.Impressed by what he saw , he asked to meet the artist , then announced he wanted to buy the lot for $100,000.
Collins said this caused another unexpected problem : everything sold before being thrown open to the public. Other paintings, not in the catalogue , had to be brought in and displayed in the foyer for others to buy .
Lady Renouf and daughter , Miss Caroline Peacock, fortified against the cold , duly arrived in the lumbering Hercules. The opening took place in the Sheraton Hotel, attended by 500. On the night, Lady Renouf had been "absolutely tickled pink" by the attendance - "everybody was there" - and she was enthralled by the artist and his paintings ."We had a great time together," Collins recalled.
Harold Thomas , born in Alice Springs, had studied at the SA School of Arts and became involved in the Aboriginal civil rights movement. He also studied Social Anthropology at the University of Adelaide.
At the time of the Darwin launch he was already an established artist in Australia and overseas,with works in private and corporate collections. Acqusitions and commissions involved the WA Art Gallery, a large number of paintings in Darwin's Travelodge ,first day postal covers .Commissioned portraits had been done of Roger Woodward, the Australian internationally renowned pianist;Australian Aboriginal tennis player,Yvonne Goolagong-Cawley; NT MLAs Dawn Lawrie and Jack Doolan.
The exhibition’s souvenir catalogue carried a foreword from Chief Minister Marshall Perron in which he said it was the most valuable exhibition ever staged of works by a NT artist . Much credit, he added, must go to the director of the Raintree Gallery, Shirley Collins . Collins acknowledged the valuable assistance of Sandra Oldroyd of Kudos Exhibition and Gallery Promotions in staging the successful event .
The exhibition’s souvenir catalogue carried a foreword from Chief Minister Marshall Perron who said it was the most valuable exhibition ever staged of works by a NT artist. Much credit, he added, must go to the director of the Raintree Gallery, Shirley Collins. In turn ,Collins acknowledged the valuable assistance of Sandra Oldroyd of Kudos Exhibition and Gallery Promotions in staging the successful event .
While here, Lady Renouf visited Raintree Gallery, flew over Kakadu, toured the Ranger uranium mine, cruised Cooinda and Yellow Waters and visited Nourlangie Rock . Because of the ongoing airline strike, Lady Susan had to take the long way home , flying to Bali, from there to Tasmania and then to Sydney . There had never been such a fabulous launch for an Aboriginal artist anywhere else in Australia , probably never since . Shirley Collins and her Raintree Gallery were much acclaimed and held in high esteem.
Despite it being a wonderful night , and a sell out , getting a carrier Collins could trust to deliver the paintings undamaged to Lord McAlpine in Broome and finding an insurance company to cover the movement had been " an absolute nightmare."
