“It’s just time.”
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They are the parting words from Queen Victoria Muesum and Art Gallery’s director Richard Mulvaney.
On July 6, he will close the door on a 35-year museum career one last time before he settles into retirement to spending more time with his “beautiful” grandchildren.
“I thought it was just the right time to call it a day. I’ve been very blessed to have the career I have. It’s been a wonderful working life and I’ve found it really rewarding,” Mulvaney said.
“Coming to QVMAG was a really great way to finish my working career. It’s such a fabulous museum.”
Before coming to Tasmania, he had “no idea” just how nice Launceston was.
“I’ve just come back from Sydney and Melbourne in the last 24 hours and living in Launceston you breathe a sigh of relief when your plane lands at Launceston Airport,” he said.
“It’s just so easy. It’s got all the things you want in a city without all the downsides of the major cities.”
Mulvaney said he had thoroughly enjoyed working alongside his City of Launceston council colleagues.
“It’s been a little different to a normal museum director to have that sort of opportunity,” he said.
“I think I’ve been able to help craft a number of things that have happened in this city.”
His favourite working memory was developing the Donald Bradman museum in New South Wales.
“To be able to get to know Sir Donald Bradman on a personal level was fantastic and to help build something from nothing, with Don’s help, was just great,” Mulvaney said.
“I love sport and in particular cricket. I was like a pig in mud. I was there for about 18 years I just loved it so much.”
He then went on to work for NSW Rail, where he admits knowing nothing about trains, but in the end finding them quite “infectious”.
Mulvaney said he was just as proud of his wife Mary, who in her first year, “sunk her teeth” into helping get Harvest Launceston off the ground.
City of Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said Mulvaney’s contribution to the community had been “invaluable”.
“Richard will be solely missed at council. His leadership and dedication to QVMAG, and the wider arts community in Launceston has been exemplary,” Alderman van Zetten said.