Afternoon Tea for Cancer Council Queensland in Support of the 30th Anniversary of Daffodil Day

Kaye and I are delighted to welcome to Government House today volunteers, supporters and administrators of the fine Queensland institution, Cancer Council Queensland.

We were particularly pleased to receive a request from Professor Dunn earlier this year that we host today’s occasion in support of the 30^th anniversary of the signature national ‘Daffodil Day’ campaign.

Like its namesake flower, which come Spring pushes its way through the ground after a long winter, heralding life, vitality and growth, the Daffodil Day campaign itself has become synonymous in Australia with hope, and reassuring support.

Our society’s approach to cancer treatment and prevention has changed dramatically over these past three decades. During that time, Daffodil Day has grown to become, and remains, the pre-eminent day on which we tangibly show our support, care and concern, for those affected by cancer.

That the Council sold 800,000 daffodils in Queensland on 26 August this year wonderfully reflects the affection our people maintain for this campaign!

And, ladies and gentlemen, I suspect that affection will continue for some time – for while I applaud the initiative, ‘Ugly Christmas Rashie’ Day just wouldn’t ring as elegantly!

Today we also gratefully acknowledge the conspicuous role Cancer Council Queensland has played – now for 55 years – at the forefront of cancer research, prevention, detection and treatment.

During my time as the Chairman of the Council’s precursor, the Queensland Cancer Fund, and President and Vice President of your affiliate national arm, the Australian Cancer Society, (now Cancer Council Australia), I came into contact with many of the organisation’s dedicated administrative and clinical professionals, researchers, volunteers, donors and supporters.

I am very pleased to welcome so many volunteers here today – I always thought the many thousands State wide who gave of their time so generously were the most wonderful people – and I am sure they still are.

You will not underestimate the reach of this charity. One of our wonderful Stewards told Kaye and me only last night that she had purchased daffodils and a Cancer Council teddy bear – the Council being her preferred charity. I was able to assure her that her selection was spot-on: the Council’s charity funds are very responsibly managed, and none is wasted on unnecessary or extravagant administration.

Kaye and I are very proud to continue our involvement now with the charity, with my being Governor and Patron.

To those of you here today, I extend, on behalf of the Queensland people, utmost gratitude for the work you so beneficially undertake.

Queenslanders are well served by our medical professionals – and our research capability in particular has a magnificent global reach and dimension. You should all be proud that your efforts are helping to contribute towards the maintenance of that reputation – the Council itself having invested some $12.6 million into lifesaving research last year.

Thank you, you are all in such a significant way helping the Council to achieve its admirable aim of creating a cancer free future.

Please, enjoy the hospitality on offer today as a token of that gratitude, as we gather here in these peaceful garden surrounds.