[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[January 1, 1992]
[Pages 2-3]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney

January 1, 1992
    Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Well, it is a pleasure for Barbara 
and me to be here, and I will speak to her afterward about her frankness 
here. [Laughter] I'm sure I can work it out. We've been married 47 
years, and I haven't been able to work it out yet, but I will try. 
[Laughter]
    Now, Prime Minister, to you and Anita, thank you for your 
hospitality. To the Premier, Nick Greiner, and Kathryn, thank you for 
yours, sir. To Minister Fatin, the Minister for Arts and Tourism in the 
Territories, we are grateful to you for your leadership in this field.
    I want to salute our own Ambassador, Mel Sembler, who came up from 
Canberra here, and Betty, who are with us; thank chairman Peter Doyle 
for his comments. I have to tell you, though, you can tell he's an avid 
sportsman, and he loves fishing. And inside he said to me, ``The only 
time I see pictures of you, you are fishing. You must love fishing.'' 
Please don't repeat that for the people back in the United States. I 
think sometimes they think the only thing I like to do is go fishing. 
[Laughter] But nevertheless, I'm sorry we missed the opportunity on this 
particular trip. But I love it.
    And may I salute Dr. Fewster, the director who is going to, I 
understand, show us around; say to your Ambassador to the United States 
how proud we are that he is with us, Ambassador Michael Cook and his 
wife, Catriona. They have many, many friends in the United States, and 
they are doing a first-class job for your country in the United States. 
And then, of course, I want to salute Dr. Hewson and his wife, Carolyn, 
who came up to be with us today, too.
    I am really thrilled to take part in this dedication, a gift from 
the people of the United States to the people of Australia, the U.S.A. 
Gallery of the Australian National

[[Page 3]]

Maritime Museum. President Reagan announced this gift in 1988 in honor 
of Australia's bicentennial. And now as we dedicate the new gallery, we 
mark another bicentennial, the Prime Minister referred to it, and that 
is the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the first foreign trading 
ship in Sydney, an American vessel named for the City of Brotherly Love 
in our country, Philadelphia.
    Never was a ship more aptly named. Brotherhood has linked the 
Australian and American people now for two centuries. And if anybody at 
home, if anyone in the States doubt it, I just wish they could have been 
with me and with Barbara when we came in from the airport or when we 
rode across to the bridge over here or wherever we have gone in this 
short period of time. You can just feel it. And I hope that they can 
feel that it is reciprocated because it certainly is. Our common 
ancestors endowed us with language and culture, the rule of law, a 
spirit of enterprise, and a passion for freedom that we still share 
today.
    Australians and Americans have been together for many a maritime 
adventure, in peace and, yes, in war; in commerce and in sporting 
competition. And visitors to this gallery may see historical displays of 
the three Americans who were among the crew of Captain Cook's Endeavor 
on its voyage to Australia in 1770. Visitors will get a unique glimpse 
into life aboard a 19th-century trading ship. Other displays commemorate 
the common courage Australian and American naval forces showed half a 
century ago in the fateful battles of World War II.
    Fraternal ties of culture and commerce between our two nations 
literally have never, ever been stronger. And I am proud that the United 
States and Australia are committed to open and robust world trade, trade 
that creates jobs and lifts the standards of living in both our 
countries.
    And in this spirit and in this anniversary year, I am very honored 
to have been asked to take part in opening the U.S.A. Gallery of 
Australia's National Maritime Museum. Thank you. May God bless you all, 
and may you have a wonderful New Year. Thank you very, very much.

                    Note: The President spoke at 12:25 p.m. at the 
                        dedication ceremony for the U.S.A. Gallery of 
                        the Australian National Maritime Museum. In his 
                        remarks, he referred to Australian Prime 
                        Minister Paul J. Keating and his wife, Anita; 
                        Nick Greiner, Premier of New South Wales, and 
                        his wife, Kathryn; Peter Doyle and Kevin 
                        Fewster, chairman and director of the museum; 
                        and Liberal Party leader John Hewson, head of 
                        the Federal Opposition Coalition.