Ric Birch, Entertainment Director for Expo 88, Visits State Library
By Lynn Meyers, Librarian, Queensland Memory | 19 May 2023
Ric Birch with librarians Robyn Hamilton (left) and Lynn Meyers inspecting some of our existing Expo 88 treasures. Photograph courtesy of Peter Rasey.
Ric Birch, the Entertainment Director for Expo 88, recently visited State Library to donate a wonderful collection of Expo uniforms and memorabilia. The donation was especially timely given this year is the 35th anniversary of Expo which transformed Brisbane from a sleepy country town into a vibrant modern city.
Ric, who was born in Sydney, has had a highly significant career as a producer of special events, the first of which were the opening and closing ceremonies for the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games. He was also the Executive Producer for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games and was the Director of Ceremonies for the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. Ric, who is now based in California, is the director and founder of Spectak Productions, an events management production company which specialises in global ceremonies.
The items which Ric had donated to State Library include a City Marching Band uniform and two backstage overall uniforms which feature a colourful design by iconic Australian designer, Prue Acton.
Ric Birch inspecting his donated material. Photograph courtesy of Peter Rasey.
Brass band at Expo '88 in South Bank, Queensland, 1988. 10028 Noel Pascoe Photographs, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 10028-0002-0016.
Other items include Expo 88 badges; a World Expo 88 official sterling silver commemorative medallion; Ric’s Entertainment Director name badge; and an Expo Oz platypus mascot plush toy.
Expo 88 Oz platypus mascot plush toy. Expo 88 Original Proofs of Entertainment Badges and Ric Birch Entertainment Proposal DVD 1985-1988. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Photograph courtesy of Peter Rasey.
These unique items will supplement an earlier donation by Ric which includes the first draft of his Expo 88 Entertainment Plan in August 1985.
Lynn Meyers
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