About Richard

This artwork was born in the friendship of two men who both had polio, both became national leaders in their field. It is also a story of goodwill and collaboration from the Adelaide Festival Centre towards the vision of this sculpture.

Bert Flugelman, the iconic Australian public art sculptor, has several major pieces of art in the centre of Adelaide. During the early 1970s, Bert became a great friend of Richard Llewellyn, who was owner of two art galleries in Adelaide. They shared many things in common. Both were survivors of polio. They shared a zestful approach to life and art and both have been major contributors in their chosen fields. Bert to public art; Richard to increasing access and opportunities for people with disabilities.

Richard was a key national leader in disability through the 1980s but much of his contribution was centred in Adelaide itself, in particular, the major buildings around North Terrace – the Convention Centre, the Hyatt Hotel, the Adelaide Festival Centre, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide Oval and North Terrace. His work laid the groundwork for Adelaide to be widely acknowledged as Australia’s most accessible city.

Tribute, constructed of Adelaide Hills black granite and stainless steel, was donated by the Llewellyn family to the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust under the leadership of Mr Geoff Bishop. It was installed in the gardens on the northern face near the Amphitheatre in the week of November 21, 2005. Tribute was officially launched on December 3rd 2005, the International Day of People with a Disability, by Mr John Bannon, the former Premier of SA, at an informal ceremony where family and friends shared their memory of Richard.

Becky and Richard 2004

Richard's Story
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Equipment

Richard believed that often equipment could make up for what his body couldn’t do, being 95 per cent paralysed. Here he is in 1978 with what he needed to do what he wanted – look how we underestimate what muscles do for us when we are able-bodied!

International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP) 1981

Richard fought to have people with disabilities run their own national planning committee for the UN Year of Disabled Persons in 1981. Here he is with the committee drawn from all over Australia, replacing the doctors and shelter workshop CEOs that were on the committee at first. This group, travelling and consulting widely, orchestrated what is widely admired as “the most successful” UN year in Australia.

Adviser to the Premier

Richard had a unique chance to embed disability policy changes throughout government when he was appointed Disability Adviser to the Premier, The Hon John Bannon, in South Australia in 1984. In this ambassadorial and leadership role, he was able to integrate his thinking, willpower and action to build government structures committed to equity and inclusion. His interest in making Adelaide an accessible city continued with initiatives in kerb ramp design, the beginning of Access Cabs, designs for train access, and integrated education progress.