Reception to Thank Major Supporters of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Our Council Chair, Dr Doug McTaggart and Mrs Pam McTaggart; all Council Members including Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeanette Young; Director and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Frank Gannon and Mrs Mary Gannon; all distinguished guests, especially major philanthropist Mr Clive Berghofer; ladies and gentlemen. Kaye and I offer you a warm welcome, in many cases a warm welcome back, to Government House. We are delighted to host this gathering of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute ‘family’ here today.

The word ‘infrastructure’ tends to conjure up images of roads, bridges, airports, and the like. But, in 2017, we need to understand that QIMR is as important a piece of Queensland infrastructure as any major road or bridge you care to name.

QIMR is now a large, world-renowned research and translation institution.

It certainly has a bricks and mortar presence, but its most important assets are both intangible and critical – expertise, experience and knowledge – and I would add, generous philanthropic support.

In QIMR’s case, these assets are applied to the task of unlocking the secrets of serious medical conditions.

And to the application of that knowledge to develop better and quicker diagnostic tools, better and more effective treatments, better management of chronic conditions and, in the best of all possible worlds, cures.

That task is challenging.  The causes of many of these conditions are often complex and elusive.

But Queenslanders are fortunate to have, in QIMR, an institution that has the skills, dogged determination and commitment to rigour that are necessary to take on the task. 

Queenslanders are also fortunate to have a group of supporters and benefactors who are up to another challenging task – providing QIMR with the resources it needs to enable its wide-ranging programs and projects to continue.

That generosity represents an important investment in the well-being of Queenslanders – and of communities much further afield. 

The generosity of philanthropists helps QIMR to offer hope, through its research and translation work, to those living with serious conditions, and to their families and friends, now and into the future.  

On behalf of the people of our State, I thank the Institute’s executive and hundreds of staff for their marvellous commitment to improving the health and wellness of our communities.

And I make a special point of thanking and congratulating all those supporters and donors who have contributed to the institute’s vital research effort. 

Your generosity represents a wonderful and praiseworthy contribution to our State. Thank you.