by Luke Voogt
Wallington businessman and art enthusiast Terry Wills Cooke “loved every minute” of his six years as president of Geelong Gallery.
The 86-year-old Order of Australia medallist described his tenure as a “wonderful journey” after stepping down recently.
“I would do it again and again if I had the opportunity,” said Terry, who is also patron of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
“What I love about art is the same as what I love about music. It gives one inspiration of all different types.”
Terry also retired from Australian-based international businesses organisation The CEO Institute last Wednesday after almost three decades, to look after his wife of 62 years.
“The boss needs looking after,” he said.
“She’s in very poor health and I need to be at home looking after her. I’m not as young as I was and she hasn’t been well for a while now.”
Terry described an exhibition of one of Australia’s greatest painters, Mt Duneed-born Arthur Streeton, as a highlight of his tenure.
“It was the first time in the gallery’s history that we ever had a pay-per-view exhibition,” he said.
“It was an absolutely wonderful exhibition of Geelong and the western suburbs.”
Terry said he would remain on the gallery’s board and that he hoped new president Gerard Mullaly could bring “fresh” ideas to the role.
“I think no one should be in the same job for too long.”
Terry also expressed his pride at helping to make Geelong Gallery “financially sustainable”.
He looked forward to the gallery’s “incredible” audience continuing to grow and its future expansion into City Hall.
“I think Geelong is really fortunate to have the gallery it’s got,” he said.
“The great tragedy is we only get to exhibit three per cent of it at any one time so the people don’t get to see what they own.”
