Friday 17 March 2023

Wesley Medical Research Chair, Mr Charlie Sartain, and members of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Barron; Professor David Coman; President of BrAshA-T, Mr Mike Clahsen, clinicians; staff; ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.

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 today.

As Patron-in-Chief of Wesley Medical Research, I thank you for inviting me along to today’s clinic to learn more about the A-T clinical trial you are conducting alongside the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

First and foremost, I would like to recognise the late Dr Kate Sinclair, a renowned and respected paediatric neurologist whom many of you were fortunate enough to know personally, and whose profound legacy as the founder of this national translational A-T clinic fills this room.  

Kate’s dedication and significant contributions to A-T research form a large part of why we are here today.

A true leading light in rare disease research in Australia, I understand that Kate, through the clinic, worked with BrAshA-T, an organisation that aims to raise money for crucial A-T research.

Together, they were working towards finding a cure and building a support network for families dealing with A-T.

With Professor David Coman at the reigns for the national A-T treatment trial and a team of dedicated specialists at his side, Kate’s work has not, and will not, be forgotten; and I look forward to shortly hearing from Professor Coman about this important work.

But before we do that, I have one very special presentation to make.

I am pleased to announce that in memory of Kate and her extraordinary contribution, the BrAshA-T have undertaken to name an annually funded fellowship in her honour, with the creation of the ‘Dr Kate Sinclair BrAshA-T Research Fellowship’.

I’m certain Kate would be most approving of this ongoing bursary, especially as it is aimed at supporting clinician researchers in the field of rare disease, and particularly in A-T.

I would now like to invite President of BrAshA-T, Mr Mike Clahsen, forward to help me present this honour, which I understand has been a well-kept secret from the honouree. 

It now gives me great pleasure to announce the very first recipient of the ‘Dr Kate Sinclair BrAshA-T Research Fellowship’ to a clinician who, like Kate, is trained in paediatric neurology and who is undertaking his Research Fellowship here at Wesley Medical Research as part of your A-T clinical trial, Dr Matthew Lynch.

Congratulations Dr Lynch and thank you.

Shadow Minister for Seniors, Communities and Disability Services and for Multiculturalism and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and member for Surfers Paradise, Mr John-Paul Langbroek MP; Member for Oodgeroo, Dr Mark Robinson MP; Queensland Overseas Foundation Chair, Mr Geoff Favell and members of the Board; scholarship and bursary recipients, and your families; 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 today.

As Governor and Patron of the Queensland Overseas Foundation, I am delighted to be here today to present this year’s scholarship and bursary recipients with their awards.

And what an impressive range of skills we are recognising today – from hairdressing and fashion, to electrotechnology, nursing, automotive, and teaching.

I see before me a wonderful mix of inspiring young Queenslanders ready to represent our State as they embark on a truly unique educational journey.

Apart from the obvious benefits of gaining new skills, ideas and global networks, the unique experience of travelling and working abroad will also help to grow the cultural understanding, career prospects and independence of these deserving recipients, so it’s fair to say this is a truly transformational opportunity.

Beyond the individual, it also stands to be transformative for Queensland more broadly, thanks to the newfound skills and abilities these graduates will bring home and share with others in their respective industries, helping to facilitate engagement with new technologies, industry practice and ideas from around the world.

As Governor and Patron of the Foundation, and on behalf of everyone here, I congratulate this year’s scholarship and bursary recipients and acknowledge their proud family and friends, along with the training organisations and employers who have helped them along the way.

And I thank, most sincerely, the Board of Governors of the Queensland Overseas Foundation, along with its industry partners and sponsors, for their continuing efforts in support of this excellent initiative, which brings so many benefits to Queenslanders and to Queensland.

It now gives me great pleasure to present a Certificate of Patronage to Chair of the Queensland Overseas Foundation, Mr Geoff Favell.