A small lunch was held in the gardens of Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM) on Saturday, July 21, during which two garden chairs were dedicated to Jane Manchee and the late Ken Arnott for their service to MCAF.

MCAF chair Annabelle Simpson said the board was thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to recognise the enormous contribution that both Jane Manchee and Ken Arnott have given to BAMM, then Moree Plains Gallery.

“Jane joined the Board in 2000, but prior to that the Manchee family were one of the founding members of the Moree Cultural Art Foundation, becoming executive members in 1986,” Ms Simpson said during her speech on Saturday. 

“Through the years the family have continually supported the Gallery with generous donations and are now Governors. Jane, a lover of the arts and all things cultural, was a perfect fit for our fledgling Gallery back in 1986.

“Jane once said to me that time was one of the most precious gifts one could give; she has done this and more. 

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“Taking over the presidency of the Friends of the Gallery in around 1994, she was the link between the Friends and the Board and then in 2000 joined the Board taking on the very important position of treasurer. With her knowledge of the stock market, her astute business sense, and her intelligence, she managed the MCAF funds up until 2015 when she decided that it was time to hand on to a younger board member.

“Jane guided us through the GFC crash with conservative pragmatism and always maintained her calm. The MCAF's portfolio has increased by nearly 30 per cent; this is with the help of our present treasurer May Weal who continues in the same vein.

“Jane is a woman who will not be turned, she is steadfast, determined and wonderfully generous.

“Ken Arnott became a Board member in 1993 and in 1997 was elected chairman.

“Ken was a bit of an inigma as his knowledge of art could fit on a postage stamp, he would not have known a Monet from a Rembrandt. This did not deter him and he took on the position and gave it his best for 21 years – four years as a Board member and 17 years as chairman. 

“During his tenure as chairman, our permanent collection increased tenfold with the bequest of the Lewis Collection, which has led the way to BAMM receiving several other important bequests, making ours the most significant collection of Aboriginal paintings in regional NSW. Under Ken's guidance many in-house improvements were made, the lift and the kitchen being the most major improvements, with Ken and Hugh  Livingston working closely together.

“During his time as chair, he guided and mentored three directors, Bruce Tindale, myself (Annabelle Simpson) and Katrina Rumley. 

“Katrina and Kenny had an interesting relationship with many spirited conversations often lasting weeks. Ken was steadfast in his attendance of meetings which became harder when he and Susie moved to Murrurundi.  This became a time of pilgrimage for Kenny and he would journey to Wee Waa to Charles, Moree to our meetings and then on to Tom or vice versa.  Ken charmed directors, artists and funding bodies alike, enabling the Gallery to continue and grow its reputation as one of NSW's finest regional galleries. 

“The gift that Ken gave to us was not only his time but his integrity, his wisdom and his mischievous sense of life. 

“Ken had an amazingly enquiring mind, intelligence and enormous capacity for people. I will always be grateful for the wisdom and guidance he showed me along the way.

“In working towards the vision of BAMM both Jane and Ken embraced the education of learning about the culture and the art of the Kamilaroi nation, of which Moree is a part and promoting our local artists in exhibition as well as many travelling Indigenous art shows.

“Ken's knowledge of art during his tenure of 21 years increased greatly from the size of a postage stamp.”