Friday 26 August 2022

Former Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland, The Honourable Robert Gotterson AO QC and Mrs Helen Gotterson; Mr Tim Fairfax AC and Mrs Gina Fairfax AC; President of The Queensland Club, Dr Ted McArdle; Vice President, Mr Will Earnshaw and General Manager, Mr Paul Wilsher; distinguished guests.

I begin by acknowledging the original custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and extend respectful greetings to Elders, past, present and emerging.

May I also extend thanks to the wonderful Camerata, for their rousing performance earlier. You make me very proud to be your Patron.

Graeme and I are delighted to join you this evening for this special dinner at the Queensland Club—a place that is so intrinsically linked to the birth of our State itself. Thank you for inviting me to share with you some of my experiences as Queensland’s 27^th Governor.

While my role as the Queen’s representative only began in November last year, your Club formed over 162 years ago, preceding—I believe—the swearing in of the very first Governor of Queensland, Sir George Bowen, by four days.

The prominent businessman, and first owner of the current Government House—John Heussler—was also a founding member, so the Vice-Regal ties to The Queensland Club are very strong indeed.

Back in 1859, our population numbered just over 23,500 people and Sir George’s wife, Diamantina, was reportedly the only Greek woman in the entire colony.

Now, our State is home to over 5 million people and enjoys the vibrancy and dynamism that multiculturalism brings, with 20 per cent of Queenslanders speaking a language other than English at home.

Of course, Queensland has not only grown in size, but in what it has to offer the world—whether that is through our natural assets, or the extraordinary talents and expertise of our people, including—no doubt—those with us here this evening.

Last month, Graeme and I spent a busy two weeks in Germany and the United Kingdom, promoting Queensland to diverse audiences, and hearing, first-hand, the incredible warmth, enthusiasm and excitement people have for our State.  

I was proud to have the opportunity to endorse our exceptional credentials in trade and investment—especially in key sectors such as infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, innovative technologies and the Arts.

A topic of immense interest is green hydrogen, particularly in Germany, which is the world leader in the technology required for its production, processing and storage.

Just last night, I hosted a dinner in support of the development of a major green hydrogen production and export facility at Raglan, near Gladstone, in follow up to an introductory meeting coordinated in London by Agent-General for Queensland, Mr Dave Stewart and the team at Trade and Investment Queensland.

Because of Queensland’s outstanding wind and solar capabilities, our State is spearheading the production and export of this commodity in Australia, and so our bonds with Germany and the UK continue to strengthen—relationships that will benefit our State for years to come.

The Arts sector is also attracting significant attention, and rightly so. I firmly believe our gifted artists, musicians, dancers and performers are world-class, and deserve our support and gratitude for enriching all of our lives, and for helping to make Queensland such a vibrant place.

Flagship organisations like the Queensland Ballet, Queensland Theatre, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Youth Orchestra, Opera Queensland, QAGOMA and the Brisbane Festival, are driving this visibility globally, as people from around the world come to Queensland to attend their spectacular events.

Our local screen industry is shining brighter than ever, while international productions, such as Elvis, are showcasing Queensland’s reputation for providing first-rate infrastructure and skills in this area.

These achievements, alongside the abundant smaller expressive endeavours taking place in every community in our State, make me incredibly proud. 

While overseas—aside from trade and Arts interests, and a busy schedule of meetings and tours—Graeme and I were also fortunate to represent Queensland at the opening of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, joining the Official Party to support our top athletes.

In fact, our State performed so magnificently at the Games, that I’m told that if Queensland was a nation in its own right, we would have finished above the rest of Australia in the medal tally!

From Rhodes House in Oxford, to Pembroke College in Cambridge, Graeme and I were constantly in the awe of the outstanding and inspiring Queenslanders who are representing our State further afield, excelling in healthcare, as entrepreneurs, in the Arts, in law, in academia, IT, and in making global cities better places to live.

These recent experiences abroad demonstrate how the quality and variety of Queensland’s attributes are generating terrific success, and I could not be more honoured to be Governor at this time. 

I know that the current members of the Queensland Club are very much a part of this success, and always have been, throughout Queensland’s history. Those first members, who met to form the Club on the 6^th of December 1859 in the Exchange Rooms in North Brisbane, made a lasting impression on the development and advancement of this State. 

Now, your ongoing and impressive contributions, across an extensive range of fields, continue to help Queensland thrive. 

Thank you.

Girls Guides Queensland State Commissioner, Mrs Kathryn Pearson; Assistant State Commissioners, Ms Amanda Nicholls, Dr Natasha Montesalvo and Ms Susan Hayes; Deputy Board Chair, Ms Mel Anderson; Chief Executive Officer, Ms Kim Harrington; Awards Coordinator, Mrs Lynne Price; staff; volunteers; supporters; Guides; and of course, award recipients, welcome.

I begin by acknowledging the original custodians of the lands on which Government House stands, the Turrbul and Jagera people, and pay respect to their Elders past and present, and emerging. I would also like to extend my respect to any First Nations people here with us today.

I am delighted to be here with you, both as the 27^th Governor of Queensland and as your proud Patron. I am also quite excited to be here to take the Girl Guide Promise, with your State Commissioner. I have been very busy practicing my salute!

I would like to take a moment to recognise that Girl Guides Queensland is the largest youth organisation for girls and young women, with almost 4,000 youth members and 1,000 volunteer Leaders and adult members.

Your mission to “empower girls and young women to discover their potential as leaders of their world,” is so important, and one that I wholeheartedly support.

I commend the Girl Guides here today, and across our State, on your commitment to the organisation and to the spirit of guiding and service.

Importantly, I also want to recognise the volunteers of Girl Guides Queensland. Organisations like yours cannot exist without the time and dedication of its volunteers, and I know from personal experience that Girl Guides have some exceptional leaders.

Ms Melissa Anderson, is here today. Mel is a former Honorary Aide-de-Camp for Government House, which formed part of her role as Detective Inspector with the Queensland Police Service. She was a fantastic help to me as I settled into life at Government House, and I know the support she provides to Girl Guides Queensland as a volunteer and now as Deputy Board Chair, is greatly appreciated. Leaders like Mel, set a great example for our girls and young women.

The primary purpose of today’s event is, of course, to congratulate the recipients of Queen’s Guide Awards, the Olave Baden-Powel Award, and the Adult Member Awards of Wattle, Flowering Gum and the Grey Kangaroo.

The setting of personal goals, culminating in the receipt of a badge, is an integral part of Guiding. I congratulate each girl and woman on the milestones she achieves on her personal guiding journey. The Awards that I am proud to present today are in recognition that that journey has been taken to its highest level.

The attainment of the Queen’s Guide Award is an exceptional achievement, and the recipients, their families, their Units and their Patrols can be justly proud.

We also have a recipient of an Olave Baden-Powel Award here today, representing the peak achievement award for Olaves and named in honour of the memory of the World Chief Guide, Lady Olave Baden-Powell, in order to keep alive her belief in the spirit of service.

Looking around the room today, I think it’s fair to say that spirit of service is, indeed, alive and well!

I thank the Award recipients for that service and dedication, and congratulate them once again on their outstanding achievement. Well done!

Now, before I make my Promise, I am proud to present this certificate of Patronage to State Commissioner Kathryn Pearson.