The Victoria League Brisbane for Commonwealth Friendship Cocktail Reception to Celebrate the Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen

I too acknowledge our 23rd Governor, Major General Arnison, and Mrs Arnison; Commissioner; members of the Consular Corps; other distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I thank William (Bill) Willcocks, Chairman of the Victoria League Brisbane for Commonwealth Friendship, for the invitation to join with the League, the Order of Australia Association Queensland and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation – GOLDOC – in this magnificent venue to celebrate the birthday of Her Majesty The Queen.

This year on Commonwealth Day – March 13 – with great anticipation, Kaye and I joined Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace for the launch of the 2018 Commonwealth Games Baton Relay. No one could miss The Queen’s beaming smile as she handed the Games baton to Anna Meares to begin its long journey through all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth.

The following day we were granted the great privilege of a second private audience with Her Majesty.

Gracious, spirited, and as well informed as ever, with a natural affection for Queensland borne of her many visits to our State, The Queen was clearly buoyed by the prospect of a second successful Commonwealth Games in Queensland.

The Games are close to Her Majesty’s heart, and they are close to the heart of Queenslanders.

The 1982 Games marked Brisbane’s debut on the world stage.

Amid the excitement about the sporting competition – evidenced by the enormous demand for tickets – there is a genuine aspiration throughout the Queensland community for the 2018 Games to be just as valuable for the Gold Coast, and our State, as they were for Brisbane.

The Commonwealth Games present much more than just a chance to show, yet again, Australia’s world-leading ability to stage a successful international sporting competition.

As we celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday, we acknowledge with her the tremendous possibilities of the Games at the heart of what she called in this year’s Commonwealth Day message, “a peace-building Commonwealth”.

Queenslanders share a special connection with the 2.5 billion people of the Commonwealth of nations.

We share a remarkable monarch whose reign has blended almost constant change with enduring values, and whom personal dedication to a life of public duty has been inspirational.

These values continue to inspire our community, and are the animating force behind the Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship, the Order of Australia Association and many other organisations represented here today.

I thank these volunteer associations for their great service to our State.

And as we celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday, I articulate, I hope not presumptuously, to GOLDOC a wish that all the people of our Commonwealth share: that the 2018 Gold Coast Games will be a sporting, civic and cultural success.

Thank you.