Afternoon Tea for National Police Legacy Day

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Honourable Dan Purdie MP; Member for Gaven, the Honourable Meaghan Scanlon MP; Acting Commissioner, Queensland Police Service, and Patron of Queensland Police Legacy, Commissioner Brett Pointing APM, Queensland Police Legacy, President, Detective Senior Sergeant Kent Ellis, Members of the Board, and Secretary-Manager, Mr Andrew Gough; current and former Queensland Police Legacy families; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbul and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here this afternoon.

I am delighted to welcome you all here today to celebrate two significant anniversaries – the launch of National Police Legacy Day on this day in 2025, and the establishment of Queensland Police Legacy as the very first such organisation in Australia, exactly 55 years ago today.

As Governor, I was immensely proud when the inaugural national day was launched last year and I congratulate everyone concerned on the success of that first day and on the dedicated effort in the 12 months since then to ensure that this important initiative continues to gain momentum and thrive.  

National Police Legacy Day shares many qualities with the Michaelmas daisy you’ve chosen as its symbol.  

That simple, old-fashioned perennial is loved and valued by gardeners all over the world for its persistence, endurance and resilience; even if it’s cut back to ground level, it shoots profusely and bursts defiantly into flower again.

It’s the perfect choice as the emblem for this organisation because it reminds us that the flower was named after St Michael the Archangel, the Patron Saint of police.

But the choice is even more appropriate when you consider that St Michael is acknowledged around the world as the great guardian and protector not only of police, but of soldiers, firemen, doctors, emergency workers… indeed, of all those who work in dangerous conditions.

St Michael has certainly proven to be a potent ally over the past half-century, with Queensland Police Legacy evolving from the informal, grassroots tradition of “passing the hat” and a voluntary payroll deduction scheme, to a major registered charity running a national campaign and a multi-faceted scheme which today, supports 58 families and 89 Legatees.

It’s an impressive success story and this year, with the addition of a corporate partner program and a merchandise store, as well as the growth of partnerships with organisations such as Run Army and Wounded Heroes Australia, the future looks bright for both the Scheme and for National Police Legacy Day.

Tonight, Government House will once again be lit up in blue as it was on this day a year ago, as a visible reminder of the courage, dedication and sacrifice of all the men and women who stand firm behind that thin blue line to protect our community and our values as a nation.

Thank you all for your continuing support of Queensland Police officers who have given so much, and their families.  

With honour they served.