the world according to kmuki: The One Where Kylie Meets The Governor General

Last night, by some strange twist of fate, I found myself at the opening of Margaret Olley: Life's Journey at the UQ Art Museum, an event attended by some 1000 invited guests, and officially opened by Her Excellency Mrs Quentin Bryce, AC, Governor General of Australia. For my English readers, you can find out what the position of the Governor General does here, but essentially, she is the Queen's representative in Australia, and exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth. So, to have the Governor General open your exhibition, well, that's a pretty big deal - a bit like getting Lizzie herself to declare open some little gallery in Dulwich or something - doesn't really happen, now, does it?

Basically what happened was this: the Head sent me the invite with a little note on it saying that as she couldn't go, would I like to, or would I like to ask the Art staff if they would? My instant reaction was, of course, I'll go - and then I thought, hang on, don't be so selfish, invite the Art staff to come too (hehehe)... which I duly did. However, the Art staff were not able to make it (or rather, didn't get back to me to say if they would like to), so I decided it wholy appropriate that my school should have representation, if only that it might be a good chance to network with other Arts professionals. So off I went. By myself. How brave. Especially when you remember that it had been the school swimming carnival that day, and we'd had to walk down to the swimming pool (a 10 -15 minute walk in 30 degree heat), spend all day outside in the stinking hot (with no air-conditioning, how criminal!) and then walk back to school. Then I had to clean up, have a shower, sort myself out for the evening. And that's when I discovered I had left my jewellery at home - but wait, Heather gave me at Christmas a lovely silver necklace - 'emergency jewellery' for my office drawer - how perfect is that! Anyway, all dressed, perfumed (yes, I keep some emergency perfume in the drawer too - plus a hairbrush, emergency straighteners, emergency make up and emergency deodorant - the only thing I haven't got yet is my emergency iron, but that will come - although I do actually have an emergency ironing board from Ikea, like I had in London) and ready to go, off I went.

Of course, I had totally misjudged the clientele. Sure, I suppose there may have been some Arts professionals there, but it seemed that mostly everyone was academics or best buds of the GG. It was apparent pretty early on that the concept or notion of 'networking' needed to go out the window, as (a) they didn't even check your invite, so absolutely anyone could've rocked up, and (b) everyone was in small groups of 2-4, so it was very difficult to shimmy on over to a group and start up a 'networking' conversation. I therefore positioned myself in the best possible locale for the speeches - behind the chairs, but in front of the little chest high tables, sipped quietly on my OJ and tried to look like I was waiting for someone, rather than like an out of place wallflower.

At one point though, a strange looking, wild-eyed and unshaven man appeared in the periphery, also looking a bit wallflower like, and I thought to myself, judging from his appearance, that this might actually be an artist, and therefore a network potential, and so I sprouted forth with some profound (in my mind) comment about the evening, art in general, and Margaret Olley in particular (what I had read on the internet). Turns out this chap was a lecturer at Griffith University and he was in no way, shape or form an art professional. He was, however, waiting for his partner, a lecturer at UQ, so we chatted amiably until she arrived, which was just before the GG arrived and the speeches commenced.

The speeches, although delivered by UQ academics, were relatively light hearted and quite interesting, and then the GG officially opened the exhibition - although surprisingly not with those words - she just hopped up, and spoke very eloquently about UQ and about Margaret Olley. The formalities over, the GG started to make her way down the aisle, chatting with various invited guests, and I turned back to my new companions, attempting to excuse myself and head off to see the art (via, of course, the trays of deliciousness that had now appeared in the hands of the waiters circumnavigating the room). However, extricating myself from these people was more difficult than I had thought, so more small talk occurred - and then suddenly the GG herself made her way over to our little group. Quick, check the hair is in place, no lipstick smudges on teeth - no, it wasn't quite like that, I didn't have time. She was just there.

The UQ lecturer, it turns out, had attended a function with the GG earlier in the day, at Customs House, and I gather had met her there, because she felt comfortable enough, without giving her own name, to introduce me by name to her, outlining my position at my new school and so on. My school, I should say, is a very prestigious one in Brisbane, and really needs no introduction. Upon hearing I was at this school, the GG informed me that her own mother had attended there, and commented on the influence of this school on her mother's life and subsequently on hers. She made specific mention of the excellent headteacher we have, and expressly requested that I pass on her warmest regards to her. I was just blown away.

After a few more pleasantries, the GG made her way on to another group, and I was speechless. How silly though, I mean, I've met Tony Blair, former PM of Great Britain, and stood in a guard of honour for the Queen - I can do this sort of thing - its just I didn't expect it here in little ol' Bris Vegas. And not 2 weeks into my new job...!

After this, my new companions went on their way, and I headed off to view the art. It was lovely in its own way, I guess its not the National Gallery or the Tate Modern (some might say thank goodness for that), but by Australian standards, its up there.

I was quite flummoxed by my evening's experience, made all the more surreal by the fact that I ended up stopping off at my friend's house on the way home for a coffee - how bizarre...