 |
Progressing the World Expo '88 Vision
- A non-government not-for-profit entity celebrating Brisbane's World Expo '88 -
Academic Forum
Opening and Closing Ceremony Speeches
"Opening Ceremony Speeches, National Day Speeches, Closing Ceremony Speeches"
Office of the Commissioner-General, World Expo '88
Opening Ceremony
Her Majesty the Queen
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE IN BRISBANE AND OPEN A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AND A HIGHLIGHT OF AUSTRALIA'S BICENTENNIAL CALENDAR.
THE FIRST EVENT OF THIS KIND WAS HELD IN LONDON IN 1851 IN THE CRYSTAL PALACE, WHICH WAS SPECIALLY BUILT TO HOLD IT.
IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT PRINCE ALBERT BEGAN THE TRADITION OF INVITING COUNTRIES TO COME TOGETHER TO SHARE: CULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL IDEAS, AND A NUMBER OF WATER COLOURS IN THE ROYAL LIBRARY AT WINDSOR CASTLE RECORD THE 1851 OPENING AND MANY OF THE EXHIBITS. SINCE 1851, THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL WORLD FAIRS, AND EACH ONE OF THESE HAS BEEN A GREAT DISPLAY OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF ITS AGE. THEY PROVIDE A DRAMATIC RECORD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY CHANGES WHICH HAVE OCCURRED.
THE "GREAT EXHIBITION" OF 1851 FEATURED SUCH NOVELTIES AS THE TELEGRAPH AND THE SEWING MACHINE. IN AUSTRALIA'S CENTENNIAL YEAR, 1888, MELBOURNE HOSTED A GREAT EXHIBITION. AS WELL AS SERVING AS A SHOW-CASE FOR THE SKILLS OF THE THEN EDISON PHONOGRAPH, THE PETROL ENGINE, THE SWITCHBACK RAILWAY AND AN AUTOMATED CREAM SEPARATOR. BY THE TIME THE OSAKA EXHIBITION OPENED IN 1970, THE SUBJECTS OF GREATEST INTEREST WERE LASERS, COMPUTERS, SPACESHIPS, AND ROCK BROUGHT BACK TO EARTH FROM THE MOON. EACH MARKED, IN THIS WAY, SUCCESSIVE AND DRAMATIC STEPS FORWARD IN THE POWERFUL FORCES OF TECHNOLOGY, CHANGING EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.
WORLD EXPO 88 HAS SPECTACULAR DISPLAYS OF ELECTRONICS, COMMUNICATIONS, TOURISM, SPORT AND THE ARTS. IT CHALLENGES US LAYMEN NOT ONLY TO UNDERSTAND, BUT ALSO TO MASTER THE PROCESSES OF CHANGE.
THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851 IS REMEMBERED EVEN TODAY BY A PERMANENT ROYAL COMMISSION WHICH EXISTS TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC AND ARTISTIC EDUCATION. IT WAS SET UP FROM FUNDS DERIVED FROM THE PURCHASE OF A KENSINGTON ESTATE, WITH A HANDSOME SURPLUS LEFT OVER FROM THE EXHIBITION. ITS FORTUNES ARE PRESIDED OVER TODAY BY THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.
EXHIBITIONS TODAY ARE EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE TO MOUNT THAN THEY WERE IN THE MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY, BUT IF YOU ARE SO FORTUNATE AS TO FIND YOURSELF AT THE END-OF THE DAY WITH A SURPLUS TO HAND, I DON'T DOUBT THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION WOULD BE HAPPY TO ADVISE YOU ON ITS BEST USE FOR THE FUTURE.
I CONGRATULATE THOSE WHO HAD THE VISION TO CONCEIVE THIS SECOND WORLD EXPOSITION IN AUSTRALIA, AND THOSE WHOSE DEDICATION AND TALENT WENT INTO ITS ORGANISATION, PLANNING AND SETTING UP. ALL THOSE WHO VISIT IT WILL TAKE AWAY LASTING AND AFFECTIONATE MEMORIES OF THE WARM WELCOME EXTENDED BY THE PEOPLE OF BRISBANE AND QUEENSLAND. I SAY THAT WITH GREAT CONFIDENCE, BECAUSE EACH TIME I COME HERE I AM MADE TO FEEL TRULY WELCOME. I AM TOLD YOU LIKE TO CALL YOUR STATE THE SUNSHINE STATE - BUT I PREFER TO THINK OF IT BY ITS ORIGINAL NAME - "QUEEN'S LAND".
I NOW DECLARE WORLD EXPO 88 WELL AND TRULY OPEN.