A luncheon was held at ‘Newstead’, Mullaley, the home of John and Julia Anderson, to commemorate the retirement of Julia’s mother, Patricia Robertson OAM, of Coonabarabran as the patron of an innovative arts group, the Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Society (ADFAS).
The occasion was attended by the National Association of ADFAS chair Jane Smith, ADFAS National events and workshop coordinator and ADFAS Tamworth society co-chair Meg Larkin, and ADFAS Narrabri chair Elizabeth Campbell.
Mrs Robertson is the founder of ADFAS and has devoted many years to the non-profit organisation, also heading a philanthropy charity named the Patricia Robertson Fund (PRF) in her honour.
Nearly four decades ago, Mrs Robertson was the driving force behind an idea, one that launched an concept which has today grown into 37 arts society groups and more than 5500 members across regional and metropolitan Australia.
Founding chair of the Association of ADFAS and the visionary behind the first arts lecture held in Sydney in 1985, the group now have an administration run by a governing body and collectively by hundreds of volunteers on local committees Australia-wide.
Offering illustrated, informative and entertaining lecture presentations on many diverse topics relating to the arts, in many communities the local ADFAS society has become the focus of cultural activities, connecting people with the arts and with each other.
Mrs Robertson first became aware of The Arts Society UK (or NADFAS, as it was then known) in the mid 1980s during an overseas trip to England. After attending what she felt was an intriguing and informative arts talk, she was encouraged by the NADFAS National Chair to form an equivalent society in her adopted city of Sydney.
Mrs Robertson returned to Australia and with the support of rallying friends, she nurtured and cultivated a determination to see ADFAS succeed.
The first ADFAS arts lecture was launched in Sydney in March 1985 and delivered by Edmund Capon, director of the Art Gallery of NSW and later elected president of the Association of ADFAS.
During this time, Mrs Robertson approached Sydney cultural enthusiast and socialite Lady Marjorie Pagan (dec) to offer her the prestigious position of founding patron. Lady Pagan initially demurred and decided to join the committee instead. Later acquiescing to the position of patron, Lady Pagan assumed the title from 2004 until 2015.
ADFAS societies had already begun to spring up across the country; Canberra in 1986, Armidale and Melbourne in 1987, and Bowral, Newcastle and Sunshine Coast in 1988. Following the formation of the National Association of ADFAS in 1989, Brisbane, Shoalhaven, Toowoomba, and Yarra launched societies that same year.
Soon, cost-effective circuits of towns and cities were established, which have today expanded into three circuits comprising of 37 society venues, as far-reaching as Perth, Hobart and Launceston.
UK Arts Society lecturers are keen to visit Australia and the organisation offers a mix of International and Australian speakers to arts enthusiasts nationwide.
Mrs Robertson’s tireless efforts in support of ADFAS did not end there. Throughout the ensuing years, she has been a friend and mentor to successive office bearers and the instigator of a philanthropic charity.
Long recognising that conservation is a significantly under-funded area of the arts, Mrs Robertson suggested that ADFAS could make a meaningful difference to this vital work. She desired to develop a fund to assist young and mid-career conservators in advancing their skills and practice in the conservation of Australian cultural materials.
To commemorate its 20th anniversary milestone, it was decided to actively support conservation in accordance with the ADFAS mission statement and spirit of giving.
Subsequently, ADFAS was pleased to make a three-year commitment to an annual Association of ADFAS Student Conservator Award, providing financial support for outstanding conservation graduates.
Appropriate mechanisms were then put in place by the Association to establish a separate permanent resource to further the cause of conservation and be derived exclusively from voluntary donations. This new fund was officially launched in 2014.
In early 2017 a new agreement between the Association of ADFAS and the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM) was formed. It was agreed that for three years (2017-2019) three awards would be granted annually. This arrangement continues to this day.
ADFAS societies additionally support young students across all avenues of the arts, offering annual grants and showcasing budding young talent within their respective districts.
Mrs Robertson was awarded the title of patron of ADFAS upon the death of Lady Pagan in 2015. To this day she retains a keen interest in the growth of ADFAS.
“I feel so blessed to have had wonderful successors to continue on with a passion and devotion to the arts”, said Mrs Robertson. “I enjoyed every minute of setting up the Sydney society, and it just went on from there.
“There was a particular satisfaction in bringing the arts to rural areas of Australia which do not have such easy access to the arts and cultural events as their city counterparts.
“I have made many lifelong friends through my involvement with ADFAS, and those friendships and memories are still with me today.”
Julia and John Anderson with Patricia Robertson.
