Order of Australia Honours and Awards
Investiture Ceremony
5 May 2009
The Honourable Chief Justice, Paul de Jersey, AC,
Mr John-Paul Langbroek, MP, Leader of the Opposition,
Colonel Mark Brewer, CSC, representing the Commander, 1st Division,
Wing Commander Stephen Mallett, representing the Commander, Combat Support Group, RAAF,
Mr Paul Stevenson, OAM, Order of Australia Association, Queensland Branch,
Distinguished guests, most notably our award recipients, their families and friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the spirit of reconciliation and harmony that we seek to foster throughout our Queensland community and throughout the Commonwealth of Australia, I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which are gathered: the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, and their descendents.
Welcome, everyone, to Government House. It is a pleasure to host such a distinguished group of Australians and a pleasure, too, to see your proud families, friends and colleagues gathered to share this day with you and to celebrate and honour the contributions you have made to our community. The presence of the highest representatives of government, the judiciary and the armed services underlines the importance we accord to this investiture.
This is a particularly auspicious occasion, not only because of the extraordinary calibre of the individuals we are honouring today, but also because of the time in our history that this celebration is occurring. As you are all well aware, this year is the 150th year since the founding of our State - our sesqui-centenary - and as such it is a time for consideration of our history and achievements as a distinct State. The writer Alan Beattie has said: "History is not determined by fate. It is determined by people.", and it has been people such as yourselves, who have made contributions over and above what was expected or mandated by your professions, your communities and callings, whose determination has made our State and our country, Australia, such a wonderful place in which to live. At this landmark in our history, it feels very appropriate that we should be celebrating and recognising individuals who have achieved excellence; who have worked tirelessly in the pursuit of causes greater than individual self-interest and who have demonstrated the finest principles of service to our country.
The individuals we are honouring today come from all over Queensland, from all walks of life, and from all sectors of the community, including the law, business and finance, primary industries, tertiary education, the public service, health, medicine and the emergency services, sport, community service, humanitarian aid, multicultural affairs, international relations and the armed forces. The citations for the awards read out this morning are only a brief summary, giving a tantalising glimpse of your record of commitment, dedication, effort and aspiration; likewise the summarised descriptions can only hint at the inspiration you have given to others in our community, and which motivated your fellow Australians to nominate you for the award you receive today.
The Australian Honours System - the Order of Australia - involves our country's most prestigious awards: the means by which we recognise outstanding achievement and service to the nation or to humanity as a whole. We give honours to recognise, celebrate and say thank you to those who ‘make a difference'; those whose achievements put them above their peers, and those whose service has been both exemplary and extraordinary. Each and every one of the awardees we honour today has proven themselves to meet this highest of standards; to be worthy of admission to the Order of Australia.
Looking back over the 150 year history of our State, and the history of our country, through trials and tribulations, through war and peacetime, through both prosperity and tough times, it is possible to trace the growth and the flowering of the values which we hold dear: a commitment to and belief in the value of hard work; to decency and integrity; admiration of selflessness and bravery - especially in times of adversity; recognition of the importance of ‘a fair go' and a ‘fair crack of the whip' for all; appreciation of those who show concern for those less fortunate and less able to cope with life's challenges; and of those who show persistence and determination in the face of difficulties.
I know that at times, Australians can feel uncomfortable with recognition and celebration of the individual - (our sportsmen and women - and some media personalities excepted!). We are quick to cut down ‘tall poppies' and have often preferred to attribute success to ‘luck' rather than merit and hard work. But as these awards have found their place in our society, they have begun, happily, to change those attitudes. Part of the reason for this is that the honours that the system bestows go beyond celebrating the individual; as we recognise today's recipients, we are, of course, acknowledging their particular contribution, but we are also making a statement about our shared values and the importance we attach to them. In honouring the way these individuals reflect and give expression to those values, we reaffirm our own commitment to and belief in Australia and in the principles by which we live - in our way of life.
Your achievements, and the award that recognises them is something of which you and your families and friends should justly be proud; I hope that you will enjoy this celebration and treasure the awards you receive today. I hope, too, that you will wear and promote them proudly, because our communities need role models - inspiration for others who are pondering how best to use their talents and abilities, to encourage them to exceed expectations, to tackle and to fell barriers, and to work to improve the lives of others . Your admission to the Order of Australia marks you out to the rest of the community as examples of what is best in our society.
As Head of the State, on behalf of the people of Queensland, I express congratulations to each of you and appreciation for the contribution you have made and I know you will continue to make to our State and to our country. I know that you did not seek reward or recognition: but as one of today's recipients commented quietly to me as we exchanged a few words about her achievements: "It IS nice to be thanked!" And I am glad - and feel privileged - to be able to express our thanks to all of you.
As a fellow awardee and member of the Order, I know what a thrill it is to receive this honour and what a very special day this is for you and for your family; and so I add to the official congratulations, my warm personal congratulations to you and my wishes that you will enjoy every moment of this well-deserved recognition and celebration of your achievements. As you savour the moment, you can also enjoy the fact that these awards live beyond today's ceremony: that they are ongoing and permanent; that from henceforth as you go about your busy lives, you can wear daily the beautiful symbol of the lapel pin and on appropriate occasions, the even more beautiful ribbons and medallions; and you can use for all time the post-nominals - designed to ensure that all Australians will recognise their significance and will accord you the respect and esteem their conferral proclaims to the world that you have earned, that you so richly deserve.