Friday 20 June 2025

President, Queensland Club, Mr William Earnshaw and Mrs Annabel Earnshaw; General Manager, Mr Tobias Daniels; Mr Tim Fairfax AC and Mrs Gina Fairfax AC; Dr Alan Campbell and Mrs Margaret Campbell; Professor George Mellick and Mrs Liz Mellick; Mr Mark Xavier and Professor Robina Xavier; Mr Douglas Bates; Dr Kerry de Voss RFD; Ms Leigh Park; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people with us here this evening.

Tonight marks the third occasion Graeme and I have had the pleasure of joining you for this annual dinner in my honour as Queensland’s 27th Governor. I thank Club President William Earnshaw for his kind invitation and warm welcome.

It’s wonderful to see so many familiar faces here this evening. The Queensland Club and Fernberg share a strong and entwined history. Though built years apart, both were listed as state heritage assets on the same day, each contributing to Queensland’s historical development. Strengthening this connection, the Honourable John Heussler—who built Fernberg in 1865 as his private residence—was a founding member of the Queensland Club.  

I thank you for inviting me to share some of the many highlights of my endeavours over the past year or so. It has indeed been another busy year for me, and for Graeme, as we’ve made our way around Queensland––and occasionally overseas––representing the state, its people, its rich past and its incredibly bright future.

While I regularly perform constitutional duties—such as granting Royal Assent and presiding over Executive Council—some moments stand out: the proclamation of our new King, and most recently, the orderly change of State Government, affirming the strength and continuity of our democracy. This change was formalised when I presided over the swearing-in of a new Government and the Opening of the 58th State Parliament—solemn occasions that underscore the weight of constitutional and ceremonial responsibility entrusted to a State Governor.

Among the many ceremonial highlights of the past year—such as addressing the ANZAC Day Dawn Service in my role as Patron of the ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee in Queensland and participating in the Flag Raising and Citizenship Awards ceremonies in Townsville—my ongoing role in presenting Australian honours to deserving Queenslanders remains especially meaningful.

Moreso given that this year marks the 50^th anniversary year of the Australian Honours and Awards system. I have been enormously privileged to host Investiture Ceremonies in Cairns, Townsville and here in Brisbane that have recognised and celebrated outstanding Queenslanders for their contributions across a wide range of fields, including science, medicine, the arts, sport, public service, emergency response, business, community involvement and more. Queenslanders’ ingenuity and optimism continue to inspire and motivate me in this role, as I seek to reflect the significance of their efforts back to them.

Further afield, Graeme and I have also been honoured to represent Queensland overseas. In 2024, we met with His Majesty King Charles III at Sandringham and again in Canberra during a Parliamentary Reception.

We were proud to attend the Paris Games, cheering on Queensland’s sporting talent—some of whom I’ve since presented with Medals of the Order of Australia. These moments align with broader efforts to champion the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Queensland’s global profile, including a recent formal dinner at Government House for visiting IOC delegates.

We also supported Queensland’s trade and investment efforts through engagements in India, China and Japan—including BioAsia in Hyderabad, the 35th anniversary of our sister-city relationship with Shanghai, and the ‘Taste of Queensland’ showcase at the Osaka World Expo.

And, we’ve made a significant investment of time travelling regionally, especially as many communities continue recovering from flooding and ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. We met with local authorities, emergency services and volunteers, and continue to admire the extraordinary commitment of those helping fellow Queenslanders in times of need.

Despite a full schedule, we continue to support our many patronage organisations—over 170 of them—through regular receptions and community events.

We’ve also kept Government House and the Fernberg Estate open to the public through a full program of Open Days, tours and events. A particularly meaningful legacy has been the creation of new bushland walking tracks through the Estate, supporting my pledge to champion a healthy and active Queensland.

Graeme shares this focus—this year launching Stepping Out from Fernberg, which maps local walks through the surrounding suburbs, encouraging exploration of the area’s rich history and character.

Before I close, I wish to pay tribute to the Queensland Club and its members for the important role you’ve played in advancing Queensland.

Thank you again for hosting us this evening, Graeme and I trust you will have a most enjoyable night.

Representing the Chair, Queensland Branch, The Order of Australia Association, Mr Darryl Seccombe OAM; recipient, Ms Alexa Leary OAM, your family, friends and supporters, ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here this morning.

I welcome you all most warmly to Government House, as we come together to honour a truly remarkable young Queenslander—Alexa Leary.

The Medal of the Order of Australia I presented to Alexa today, recognises her service to sport as a gold medallist at the Paris Paralympic Games in 2024.

There, she not only won two gold medals and a silver, but also twice smashed the existing women’s 100m freestyle S9 world record.

Alexa’s impromptu dance on the La Défense Arena podium has become an iconic moment of the Games—an expression of pure joy at having accomplished what many had considered impossible.

And I am sure that this same sense of exhilaration was felt deeply by her family—her loving parents, Russell and Belinda, her siblings; Ashtyn, Madison, Max and Jack; her extended family; her committed and understanding coach, Jon Bell, and all the others who have supported her in her journey.

…Because, as everyone here in this room is well aware, Alexa’s triumphant story is one that was so close to being a tragedy.

In July 2021, after Alexa’s devastating training accident, it was not known whether she would even survive such a significant brain injury, and I can only imagine how hard it must have been for her family to see her struggle to regain her abilities, when at one point the doctors weren’t sure whether she would ever walk or talk again.

It seemed that Alexa’s aspirations to pursue a sporting career would be crushed.

But as we all now know––and I suspect her family has always known––Alexa is not one to give up.

She instead used her passionate and competitive spirit to defy the awful odds given to her, putting in a mighty effort to overcome each challenge; helped at every step, by truly exceptional medical teams.

After 111 days, she walked out of hospital unassisted, armed with a renewed determination to do all she could to follow her sporting dreams.

And just two years after her accident, Alexa’s gold and silver wins at the World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester, demonstrated what is possible with a powerful combination of fearlessness and grit.

Not only were Australians captivated by Alexa’s outstanding achievements in the pool in Paris, but we were charmed by her enthusiasm and engaging personality, while simultaneously being deeply inspired by the tenacity and courage that had brought her Paralympic success.

And since then, Alexa has continued to win our admiration and our hearts.

Already this year, she has broken world records at the Sydney Open & UniSport Nationals and the Australian Open Championships in Brisbane^__and just ten days ago, at the Australian Swimming Trials in Adelaide, she once again excelled.

She now has her eye firmly set on the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, and the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Out of the pool, Alexa has earned awards and accolades, including being named Para-athlete of the Year at last November’s Queensland Sport Awards and Rookie of the Year at the Paralympian of the Year Awards in December, and has used her ever-growing media profile to help raise money and awareness for causes close to her heart.

Each of these achievements is extraordinary, culminating with today’s honour—our nation’s highest—which this year celebrates a 50-year-long tradition of ensuring that as a nation, we applaud the contributions our people make to the vibrancy, cohesion and reputation of our country.

Today’s special recognition symbolises the bravery and fight of one inspirational young woman—an athlete who represents her state and country with pride—and I now join with her family and friends, in extending Alexa my sincerest congratulations.

Thank you.