Motor Neurone Disease Assn Qld Official Opening of State Forum

Thank you for your warm welcome, Mr Currie, and for the opportunity to meet guests and committee members before official proceedings began this morning. It was a pleasure and privilege for me, as Patron of the Association in Queensland, to speak directly to those fellow Queenslanders who are living with Motor Neurone Disease as well as to their families and carers, and to the medical professionals and researchers who are committed to conquering MND.

I congratulate the Association on once again taking the initiative of organising this event. It is further evidence of your drive, determination and imagination. The viral ice-bucket challenge; the ‘Walk to D-feet MND’ program; the Harley Davidson motorcycle rides; MND week in May; the ‘Drink tea for MND’ campaign; the successful applications for grants and sponsorship - all these things and many others have raised both funds and awareness. I commend everyone involved on this ongoing success.

Importantly, today’s event is a ‘forum’, not a ‘colloquium’ or ‘seminar’ or ‘symposium’. As such, it harks back to the original ‘Forum’ in Ancient Rome where news and information were shared and discussed, not just delivered. 

Of course the Roman Forum was also a venue for gladiatorial contests and while I doubt that any pikes or tridents will be seen here today, I anticipate that debate will be robust — as it must be in the continued pursuit of a world free from the impact of MND. 

With that hope for a stimulating and valuable exchange of ideas and information, it is now my pleasure to declare officially open the twenty-fifteen State Forum of the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Queensland. Thank you.