AGY-1674 | Captain Cook Bi-Centenary Celebrations Citizens' Committee

Full description

In 1968 the Government of New South Wales established an organisation to arrange an appropriate programme of celebrations to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the discovery and exploration of the East Coast of Australia by Captain James Cook. (1)

An Executive Committee headed by the Premier of New South Wales, the Hon. R.W. Askin, M.L.A., as President, was inaugurated on 19 June 1968, and was responsible for the overall policy governing the celebrations, including finance. In addition, it was responsible for the organisation and presentation of official State functions, as distinct from the general celebrations' programme. (2)

The Citizens' Committee, a sub-committee of the Executive Committee, was established on 2 July 1968 at its inaugural meeting when the Committee adopted the following resolution, "That those present at this meeting accept the invitation extended by the Government of N.S.W. to constitute themselves into a committee to be known as the Captain Cook Bi-Centenary Celebrations Citizens’ Committee". (3)

Under the chairmanship of the Hon. Asher Joel, O.B.E., M.L.C, the committee was responsible for the overall organisation of the approved programme of events, its presentation and administration. The Citizens' Committee formed a number of supplementary committees to organise specific celebrations. These included the Arts and Historical Committee, the Decorations and Illuminations Committee, the Re-Enactment of the Landing Committee, the Sydney Harbour Carnival Committee, the Women's Committee, the Armed Services Committee, the Schools and School Children’s Committee, and the Panorama of the Pacific Committee. Between 30 November and 3 December 1970, Pope Paul VI visited Sydney to participate in the Cook Bi-centenary celebrations. The Government of New South Wales made the offices of the Captain Cook Bi-Centenary Celebrations Citizens' Committee in the Queen Victoria Building and staff available to assist in organising the visit and also assisted financially with official functions. The celebrations concluded in December 1970 and the accounts of the Citizens' Committee were closed in June 1971. (4)

Endnotes
1. NSW Cabinet Meeting Papers, 9 April 1968. AK323.
2. NSW Cabinet Meeting Papers, 9 April 1968. The Hon. E.A. Willis, B.A., M.L.A., Minister for Labour and Industry, Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourism, was appointed Minister in Charge of the Celebrations and Chairman of the Executive Committee. AK323.
3. Captain Cook Bi-Centenary Celebrations Citizens’ Committee Minutes, 2 July 1968, p 2. 9/5104.
4. Concise Guide to the State Archives (A-Cl): Captain Cook Bi-Centenary Celebrations Citizens’ Committee.