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QUEENSLANDPARLIAMENTCELEBRATES150 YEARS

SATURDAY 22 MAY 2010 parliament.qld.gov.au

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Queensland Parliamentary ServiceQueensland Parliamentary Service

P150 CELEBRATIONS

Parliamentary Times Saturday 22 May 2010

On 22 May 2010 the Queensland Parliament celebrated the 150th anniversary of its first sitting. This milestone - 150 years of continuous parliamentary democracy - is a significant achievement of which all Queenslanders should be proud.

To mark the occasion a number of P150 related events were held. The parliament hosted three P150 youth parliaments, two at Parliament House and one in Mackay. These involved more than 250 students from 49 schools participating as youth members.

Two books were launched: Order in the House - the story of the Queensland Parliament; and That Gallant Gentleman, a biography of Colonel Charles Gray, the parliament’s first librarian and Usher of the Black Rod.

The Re-Member and1860-63 Record of Proceedings online database were launched and provide

Queenslanders with easy access to historical records of their first parliament.

Two new parliamentary wines were launched. These wines, named The Speaker’s Chair and The Governor’s Chair, are available for sale from the Parliament’s gift shop and continue the parliament’s support of the Queensland wine industry.

A commemorative dinner was held on Friday, 21 May. This dinner was open to any person who wished to attend on the purchase of a ticket for $150, $50 of which was donated to charity. The dinner and its auctions raised more than $9,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) and Foodbank Queensland. I thank the honourable Members, former Members, and many members of the public - who all paid to attend this dinner - for their support of our two charities on the night.

Finally, on 22 May we hosted an open day and launched the Speakers’ Corner project in the George Street forecourt of Parliament House. The Speakers’ Corner project will be a legacy for all Queenslanders. It will commemorate Queensland’s 150 years of parliamentary democracy and at the same time highlight one of the basic democratic freedoms that citizens in a democracy enjoy - that is, freedom of speech.

Again, I thank everyone who was involved in organising these projects, the media for their coverage and support of P150, staff who were involved in the planning and execution of the events and all Queenslanders who attended and participated in these events.

Hon John Mickel MP Speaker

ContentsP150 Overview ......................................................................................................................................................................... 8Youth parliaments ............................................................................................................................................................. 9Order in the House .......................................................................................................................................................... 9Parliament House Conservation Plan ........................................................................................ 10Parliamentary Library celebrations ............................................................................................. 11Historical databases ....................................................................................................................................................... 12Wine launch .................................................................................................................................................................................... 12Commemorative dinner .......................................................................................................................................... 13Open Day and Speakers’ Corner launch ................................................................................... 14-15

150-year milestone a great achievement

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Three P150 youth parliaments were held as part of the Queensland Parliament’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 2009-10. These were the Proclamation Day youth parliament held on 10 December 2009 at Parliament House, a regional P150 youth parliament held at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre in

Mackay on 7 May 2010 and a final P150 youth parliament held at Parliament House on 21 May 2010.

The Proclamation Day youth parliament served as both the closing event of Queensland’s Q150 year of celebrations and the start of the Queensland Parliament’s P150 year of celebrations. Participating students delivered speeches on significant historical events from 1859 to 2009 as well as on issues facing Queensland’s future.

The two P150 youth parliaments held in May 2010 saw students debating the topic “Queensland 2050” where they envisaged the state’s future.

The Mackay P150 youth parliament

Speaker John Mickel launches ‘Order in the House’ with the book’s project manager Annemarie Groth.

P150 youth parliaments

Order in the HouseOrder in the House – the story of the Queensland Parliament is an informative, commemorative publication that details the history and role of the Parliament.

The book was launched by Speaker John Mickel on 18 May 2010, in the Legislative Council Chamber.

Mr Mickel said that Order in the House told the story of what happened in the Queensland Parliament, who did what, the history of how Queensland’s system of democracy had evolved and the significant parliamentary achievements over the last 150 years. It provided factual explanations of how our Parliament worked and importantly it was written for all Queenslanders in plain language.

The book is available for sale from the Parliament’s gift shop for $12.

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Parliamentary Times Saturday 22 May 2010

P150 CELEBRATIONS

The Parliament House Conservation Plan was jointly launched on 14 April 2010 by Speaker John Mickel, Minister Robert Schwarten and Leader of the Opposition John-Paul Langbroek at a function in the Legislative Assembly Chamber. The report was then tabled in parliament on 15 April 2010.

The Parliament House Conservation Plan was commissioned by the Parliamentary Service and prepared by the Department of Public Works to assist in the ongoing management of Parliament House. It addresses the buildings, the contents and the setting, including adjacent areas where these are relevant to the cultural heritage values of the parliamentary precinct.

Mr Mickel said that the Parliament’s 150th anniversary was a timely occasion to launch the Conservation Plan.

“As a heritage building, the ongoing maintenance of Parliament House can be a difficult and complicated process. That is why having this Conservation Plan is vital in guiding how we use the building and how we ensure that it remains in good shape.

This Conservation Plan not only documents what we have by way of buildings and contents and other assets, it provides the blueprint for the Parliament to conserve and protect the building, contents and other assets into the future. It will result in greater awareness and understanding of

the heritage value and significance of Parliament House. The Parliament’s adherence to the recommendations of this report will see the building on a solid footing for its next 150 years,” Mr Mickel said.

(From left to right) Parliament House Conservation Plan co-authors Stephen Murray, Dr Judith Mackay, Jinx Miles and John McDonough at the launch with John Petrie, Opposition Leader, John-Paul Langbroek MP and Speaker John Mickel.

Parliament House Conservation Plan

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150th Anniversary The Queensland Parliamentary Library celebrated its 150th anniversary at a function held in the Legislative Council Chamber on 18 May 2010. This event was held on the 150th anniversary of the date on which the gazette notice of the appointment of the Parliament’s first Librarian, Colonel Charles George Gray, was published.

As part of the Library’s 150th anniversary celebrations, a biography of Colonel Gray was launched (see article below), a pamphlet on the history of the Library was produced and a portrait of Colonel Gray was donated to the Parliament by Gray’s descendants who were special guests at the event.

Also in attendance were many current and former Parliamentary Library staff.

Kenneth R Dutton’s book about Colonel Charles George Gray was launched as part of the Parliamentary Library’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Titled That Gallant Gentleman - The Remarkable Story of Colonel Charles George Gray, the book details the life of the man who served as the Queensland Parliament’s

first Parliamentary Librarian and Usher of the Black Rod. Prior to this service, Colonel Gray’s military career had seen him fighting as a captain in the Rifle Brigade against Napoleon’s army in Spain and Portugal in 1810 and 1811 and as a subaltern in India from 1804 to 1807.

Author Kenneth Dutton and descendant of Colonel Gray, Anne Hancock, with the donated portrait of Colonel Gray, and (above) the Parliamentary Library’s 150th anniversary commemorative brochure.

Parliamentary Library celebrates

‘That Gallant Gentleman’ book launch

In May 1860 the first Queensland Parliament resolved that a library to jointly serve the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council be created. Col. Charles George Gray, first Usher of the Black Rod was also appointed as the first Parliamentary Librarian and 1,000 pounds set aside for funding. This was the first publicly funded library to be established in Queensland.

Following O’Donovan’s retirement, John James Murray became the fifth Parliamentary Librarianin 1907. He originallystarted service as a juniorHouse messenger.

Stuart Gunthorpe continued the work of Desmond Ryan in facilitating collection access and began a news clipping service. The first photocopier was introduced. Opening hours continued to extend across weekends. In 1954 Library opening hours were Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm.

From 1990-2006 a Parliamentary Education Unit was located in the Library and significant historical displays for regional parliaments and notable historical events of the Parliament were developed. New Windows and Browser versions of the Library software, Concord, were successfully launched. Digitised TV and radio clips for client access via the Internet were established.

In 1883 O’Donovan collated and published a one volume dictionary catalogue to the collection. His 1899 expanded 3 volume dictionary catalogue won him praise from experts all over the world.

As a formally qualified Librarian, Ryan on his appointment, quickly introduced a cardcatalogue for effective collection access, and instigated a Deweyshelving arrangement.

By 1979, Library services in the Annexe, included a modern media monitoring facility and an expanded research service. Staff qualifications and skills were upgraded. In 1986 an enhanced information management system was designed in-house, winning several industry awards. Collections expanded, and an in-house newspaper preservation microfilming service was instigated.

The appointment of Denis O’Donovan, an Irishman and classics scholar occurred in 1874. In the succeeding 28 years, the Library collection was successfully expandedfrom 8,000 to 32,000 volumes, winning praisefor its catalogue accessand management.

In 1933, under Parliamentary Librarian Harry Worthington, part of the old disused Parliamentary Stables was fitted out for collection storage, with further extensions in 1947. In 1934 only 3 library staff were employed, all withoutformal qualifications.

On appointment in 1972, Nick Bannenberg, with a staff of 7, organized temporary storage in the Bellevue Hotel, established a client reference service, and a computerised information system (AIRS). Media monitoring was expanded and plans for the establishment of a modern research library in the new Annexe facilities began.

For over 150 years the Queensland Parliamentary Library has directly contributed to the parliamentary process in Queensland, ably serving members, their staff and other library communities.

In January 1861 Frances Chester Master was appointed as Librarian, followed closely by Rev. James Robert Moffatt, the first full time Librarian. Moffatt expanded the collection, published the first 1864 catalogue and oversaw the move to the new Parliamentary building including the specially designed library premises in 1868.

The war years and inter-war period saw Library fortunes fluctuate, as budgets and staff were restricted.

As the collections expanded, appropriate collection storage and budget maintenance were constant issues. Improvement to sub-standard storage in the stables was hotly debatedin the House and even inthe press.

A Video on Demand (VoD) service was introduced within the precinct and ministerial network. Following formal recognition of the valuable O’Donovan Collection (1860-1906) as a priceless state heritage asset, annual Open Days and lecture series were instigated. Trust Fund preservation monieswere used to assistin conservation.

1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Library catalogue 1864

First Queensland Parliamentary building 1860

Parliament Housebuilt 1864 - 1868

New Library accommodation in Annexe 1980

Deputy Librarian, Helga Alemson demonstrates software, Parl-Airs, 1987

Library card catalogue drawers 1950s

Library media monitoringservices 1980

Visitors to O’Donovan Open Day 2006

O’Donovan Library Collection:state heritage asset

The Stables - used for temporary storage from 1933 to early 1970s

Library interior c.1912

Library vote details 1923Oldest Library book published 1599

Library catalogue of additions 1908

Bellevue Hotel - used for temporary storage 1970s

Library interior c1960 Library microfilmingservice 1987

Library e-bookservices 2009

Library Rules 1909

O’Donovan Library catalogue 1899

Premier Hanlon studiesin the Library, 1949

Parliamentary Buildings withAnnexe 1979

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P150 CELEBRATIONS

Parliamentary Times Saturday 22 May 2010

As part of the Parliament’s 150th anniversary celebrations, two new online databases containing historical parliamentary information were launched by Speaker John Mickel.

Both the Re-Member and 1860-1863 Record of Proceedings databases are on-going projects that have been researched and created over several years by Parliamentary Service staff.

Re-Member contains biographical information on the members of Queensland’s first Parliament which lasted from 22 May 1860 to 20 May 1863 with a total of 59 members serving in both the Legislative Assembly and Council Chambers during this period. Biographies of each of these 59 members were published on the Re-Member database as part of its launch on 19 May 2010.

The 1860-1863 Record of Proceedings database contains reports of the

Queensland Parliament’s proceedings during its first year of operation. These reports were published in the Moreton Bay Courier newspaper prior to the establishment of Hansard in 1864 and constitute first hand reports of what occurred in the Parliament in the period 1860-1863. The 1860-1863 Record of Proceedings database currently contains these reports from 1860 in a fully searchable format providing easy access to the proceedings of this important period in Queensland’s history.

These two wines were selected in a blind tasting of Queensland wines by a panel that was lead by Master of Wine Andrew Corrigan at Parliament House in February 2010.

The two new Parliamentary wines are available for sale to members of the public from the Parliament House gift shop while stocks last.

As part of the P150 commemorative dinner, two new Parliamentary wines were launched.

These wines, The Speaker’s Chair and The Governor’s Chair were launched by the Governor, the Speaker and members of the Queensland Reds rugby union team.

The Speaker’s Chair is a Verdelho sourced from Robert Channon Wines at Stanthorpe and The Governor’s Chair is a Syrah sourced from Witches Falls Winery at North Tamborine.

The Robert Channon Wines Verdelho is from their 2009 vintage of Granite Belt grapes and the Witches Falls Syrah is from their 2007 Granite Belt vintage.

Wine launch

Her Excellency The Governor of Queensland Ms Penelope Wensley AO and Speaker John Mickel launch the P150 wines with members of the Queensland Reds and representatives from Robert Channon Wines and Witches Falls Winery.

Historical databases

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A dinner to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the first Queensland Parliament was held in the Parliament’s Premiers’ and Speakers’ Halls on 21 May 2010.

This event highlighted both the serious and lighter sides of the Queensland Parliament and raised $9,300 for two charities – the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) and Foodbank Queensland through donations and auctions. A panel of experts debated issues including the parliamentary institution, its buildings, its language, culture and humour. Cartoonist Larry Pickering also provided entertainment with stories and caricatures.

Commemorative dinner

Cartoonist Larry Pickering (From left to right) The dinner panel - Prof Roly Sussex, Hugh Lunn, Dr Judith McKay, Hon Dr David Hamill AM, Adj Prof Joan Sheldon AM, Prof Michael Keniger, Prof John Wanna and MC Chris O’Brien.

(Above and below) Commemorative dinner attendees

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Parliamentary Times Saturday 22 May 2010

P150 CELEBRATIONS

Clear blue skies and sunshine greeted attendees to the Queensland Parliament’s 150th anniversary Open Day that was held on Saturday 22 May 2010. This date, exactly 150 years after the official opening of Queensland’s first Parliament, saw more than 2,100 people visit their Parliament to enjoy a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of the Parliamentary building, live entertainment on the Speaker’s Green and a free sausage sizzle.

Queenslanders visit their Parliament on Open DaySpeakers’ Corner launch a great start to the Parliament’s 150th anniversary Open Day

1. Speaker John Mickel with Mr Gilbert Oakes the great-great-grandson of Queensland’s first Speaker Mr Gilbert Elliott. 2. Members of the Gold Coast Titans attending the Open Day. 3. Members of the deaf community taking part in a guided tour of Parliament House. 4. The P150 cake being shared with Open Day attendeesby Parliamentary Catering staff members, Natasha Eccles and Sucil De Silva. 5. Unveiling of the Speakers’ Corner. 6. The Ipswich Town Crier. 7. Jaran Aboriginal Dance Troupe perform on the Speaker’s Green.

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The day commenced with a performance by the Australian Army Band Brisbane outside the front of Parliament House and the City of Ipswich Town Crier announcing the arrival of Her Excellency The Governor of Queensland Ms Penelope Wensley AO and the Speaker of the Queensland Parliament John Mickel.

The Governor and the Speaker then launched the Speakers’ Corner, a legacy project for the people of Queensland. The Speakers’ Corner is a designated area in front of Parliament House, where people can exercise their right to free speech and engage in vigorous debate. The Speakers’ Corner plaque includes a quote from the Queensland Parliament’s first Speaker, Gilbert Elliott, from the parliament’s first sitting day about Members showing tolerance and forbearance when engaging in debate.

Following the launch of the Speakers’ Corner, the assembled members of the public were invited to take a tour of their parliament. This tour included several rooms and areas of Parliament House that have previously not been open for members of the public to view. These rarely seen areas included the ‘secret staircase’ located behind

the Legislative Council Chamber, the Clerk’s Office, the Premier’s Office and the President’s Verandah. Other areas included on the tour included the Speaker’s Office, the O’Donovan Library, the Strangers’ Dining Room as well as the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council Chambers and the Members’ Reading Room.

On the Speaker’s Green, free live entertainment was provided by the Australian

Army Band Brisbane Jazz Ensemble, The Transformers, the Jaran Aboriginal Dance Troupe, Bollywood Dhamaka and the Brisbane River City Clippers.

Attendees also enjoyed a free sausage sizzle and cream teas served on the Speaker’s Green throughout the day.

Queenslanders visit their Parliament on Open Day

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