Reception to Recognise the Contribution of Those who Assisted with Disaster Management Activities Associated with Tropical Cyclone Marcia

Premier; Deputy Premier; Minister; Brigadier Noble; Director-General Mr Dave Stewart; ladies and gentlemen.

It is Kaye’s and my very great honour to be hosting here tonight, at Government House, Queenslanders who contributed so wonderfully to the post-Cyclone Marcia recovery effort, and continue to do so.

That welcome also importantly embraces those involved in disaster management planning. Their dedication and preparedness went a long way to ensuring that Cyclone Marcia will be remembered for that enormous relief and recovery effort – and not, thankfully, for any loss of life.

A Governor’s role to help to sustain the community, in my case with Kaye’s solid support, takes on graphic significance in times of natural disaster.

It was unsettling, frankly, to visit communities – Gympie, Biloela, Thangool, Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Emu Park and Byfield – in the two weeks following Marcia’s landfall on February twenty.

I was very grateful to be alerted by the Premier, at one of our regular meetings, to the desirability of my meeting with the people of Byfield, who suffered particularly harshly. It was heartwarming to be with the students at the Byfield State School – actually their first ever visit from their State Governor. 

Heartache, though, attended all those visits, in light of the immense devastation and loss of property.

But there was, through it all, a pervading sense of pride, pride in the realization that we Queenslanders all so willingly seek to help one another.

I saw genuine empathy between the people of Yeppoon, for example, waiting patiently in the Council offices seeking stand-by relief, and the many sincerely helpful representatives of governmental and non-governmental agencies willingly assuring that assistance.

Then there was the impromptu volunteer brigade I encountered on arrival at Thangool, cleaning up the flooded State School. Wonderful, generous, big hearted people, young and old, including tradespeople from Biloela pitching in for no financial reward.

Then there was the mighty contingent providing relief at Cooberrie Wildlife Park north of Yeppoon.

Many of these people, at Thangool and Cooberrie, had no prior connection with the School or the Wildlife Park – they were driven to respond out of concern for the human needs of their fellow citizens, and for the re-instatement of their communities.   

The common bonds uniting us tighten with adversity.

State Emergency Services and the ADF have made a very important contribution to this recovery effort. Thousands of Emergency Services volunteers stumped up – I spoke on the ground with lots of them. They are wonderful citizens. And the defence personnel, coordinated by Brigadier Roger Noble, very willingly and capably undertook tasks not normally within their remit.

I want particularly tonight also to acknowledge our Mayors and their partners, whom Kaye and I are delighted to have staying as overnight guests at Government House.  

They are – and hands up please!: Councillor Margaret Strelow, Mayor of Rockhampton; Councillor Ron Carige, Mayor of Banana Shire; and Councillor Mick Curran, Mayor of Gympie. Councillor Bill Ludwig, Mayor of Livingstone Shire, was unfortunately prevented from making his flight for tonight’s reception by of all things another rain event!

We should tonight join in applauding their effective leadership...  

I extend that special acknowledgement to all elected representatives, with particular mention, if I may, of the Premier, whose timely and comprehensive support for the people of these regions was, I know, greatly appreciated.

There is one other thing I need to say. In a cruel twist, many communities are concurrently affected by the continuing consequences of this Cyclone and drought.

The Premier and I have recently visited drought affected parts of our State. Kaye and I, and I know the Premier also, were deeply affected by what we saw. I am very pleased to see the government responding as tangibly as it can to that persisting disaster.

Knowing of the plight of the drought-stricken west, many Queenslanders are responding most generously, and for that I am most thankful.

And finally, focusing again on the particular disaster which has brought us together tonight…

On behalf of all Queenslanders, I wholeheartedly again thank you all for your magnificent contribution.