Good evening, it is such a pleasure to welcome you all to Government House for this evening’s very special dinner.
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 the First Nations people here tonight.
Graeme and I welcome you most warmly to Government House—which truly is a place for all Queenslanders. We are so pleased to have this chance to meet you again, and to reinforce our admiration and gratitude for the outstanding contributions that earned you your recent, well-deserved King’s Birthday Honours and Awards.
We extend this appreciation to the family and friends joining you this evening, who offer you their love and support, and who I know are immensely proud of your achievements.
Investiture ceremonies are incredibly uplifting, because they highlight how the efforts of individuals can make a substantial, beneficial impact on the lives of many. This ethos is what underpins our country’s unique Awards system and makes it so special.
The personal journeys that led you here tonight differ greatly, but I know that the essential qualities of determination, commitment and passion are threaded through all of your stories.
It is clear that you do not sit on the sidelines, but instead are actively involved in making your professions, workplaces, communities and our whole society itself fairer, stronger and much more connected.
You are driving positive change, through innovation and initiative, and by being effective and respected advocates—lending your voices to champion for those who are struggling or facing challenges.
What strikes me about each of you, is how willing you are to share your knowledge and wisdom with others—to encourage the development of tomorrow’s leaders—which is not only deeply appreciated, but is fundamental to ensuring our state continues to thrive.
So, this evening, Graeme and I applaud you for the vital work you are doing—whether this is within our armed forces, emergency services, public service, our education institutions, or deep in the heart of communities across our state.
Tonight’s dinner is our small way of expressing our thanks, once again, on behalf of all Queenslanders, and we hope you enjoy this opportunity to chat more about your experiences.
