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Art collector becomes Senior Fellow
Renowned Mt Mellum art collector Ken Hinds will become an Honorary Senior Fellow of the University of the Sunshine Coast this Friday 17 April.
Retired engineer Mr Hinds, 64, spent decades working on multi-million-dollar construction projects while nurturing a passion for collecting artworks and helping the community.
This ranged from assisting the Caloundra Chorale and Theatre Company and Caloundra Junior Boxing to becoming a court-appointed arbitrator in civil disputes.
“This USC award is a complete surprise and I am honoured to receive it,” he said.
“I started collecting art when I was about 25 years old. I don’t paint but I now have some 30,000 pieces including Australian and indigenous art, paintings, pottery, toys, artefacts, books, movies and more.”
USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas AM, who will present the award at the university’s graduation ceremony, said Mr Hinds had made a significant, sustained contribution to the region, especially in the visual arts.
“He has volunteered hundreds of hours as adviser, committee and board member, and patron,” Professor Thomas said.
“Ken was responsible for the first art exhibition we ever had at this University when we opened in 1996.”
Professor Thomas said Mr Hinds’ private collection, which had toured nationally as well as featured at Caloundra Regional Art Gallery, was a celebration of Australian historical and popular culture.
Mr Hinds said he had built a two-storey private gallery in the hinterland for his Australian and indigenous art and planned another gallery for the toys and artefacts.
“It has always been my dream to allow the general public to view the collection,” he said. “I have been working closely with Mayor Bob Abbot in the hope we can form a partnership and I hope USC can be involved with the educational side of it.”
Mr Hinds said his career highlights included: two engineering excellence awards in 1995 for his involvement with the Sydney Airport Parallel Runway Project; a Centenary Medal in 2003 for services to engineering, construction and the arts; and a Community Australia Day Award in 2007.
He also was proud of his work as director on the Sydney Cross City Tunnel (West End) and the Sydney Airport A380 Aircraft Infrastructure project.
He recalled selecting the 20 major Australian works, by esteemed artists such as Olsen, Nolan, Crooke and Boyd, for USC’s first exhibition and said he enjoyed close links with the University to this day.
Mr Hinds will be one of two new Senior Fellows at the annual ceremony. Also receiving the honour is the founding principal of Chancellor State College John Lockhart.
– Julie Gatehouse