The first time Sir Peter Cosgrove was painted, his face was smeared with camouflage paint in the midst of the Vietnam War.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
That's a far cry from the unveiling of a portrait of himself as governor-general at Parliament House on Thursday, in his last official visit to the building where Australia's laws are made.
Before pulling a black sheet off the work by artist Jiawei Shen, Sir Peter noted he was feeling a link to a parliamentary tradition.
When a new Speaker is elected in the House of Representatives, two other MPs escort them to the chair while they act like they're dissatisfied with the prospect.
"I believe this dates back to when the steward of England beheaded the speaker of the day in the House of Commons, and after that, it's been a reluctant person in the chair," Sir Peter said.
"Well, I'm the governor-general, I've returned here to be hung."
As dozens of school children watched on, the former commander of Australia's troops in East Timor and 2001 Australian of the Year said it was easy to choose Mr Shen to paint him.
The artist had left a mark on Sir Peter when he had painted him as Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University.
There are no university robes this time around, with the latest portrait instead showing the leader standing poised in front of a lectern.
But Sir Peter noted that the Archibald Prize finalist had achieved something notable.
"There's a minor miracle at work here - he caught he with my mouth closed," he said.
The governor-general, who also led the task force to rebuild Queensland communities affected by Cyclone Larry in 2006, is stepping down from the post on July 1 at the end of his five-year commission.
Former NSW governor David Hurley will replace him.
Australian Associated Press
