Augathella Community Lunch

Mayor, Shire of Murweh, Councillor Shaun Radnedge; Deputy Mayor, Councillor Peter Alexander; Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bruce Scott OAM; Members of the Augathella Progress Association; ladies and gentlemen; boys and girls.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Augathella and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here today.

Graeme and I are delighted to be able to join you today, and I am very grateful to Mayor Radnedge and the Shire of Murweh for making my first visit to Augathella possible. I also thank the Augathella Progress Association for so generously supporting and hosting this important community lunch.  

I say ‘important’ because, as Governor, a vital part of my role is to meet and talk to Queenslanders wherever they may live in our vast state so that I can be an effective advocate for them.  

This is especially so for the people of small, remote communities like this, and Graeme and I are both looking forward to being able to hear about the things that matter to you.

Today’s visit is particularly special to me because, five years ago when I was sworn in as Governor, I made a promise to the people of Queensland that I would visit every public hospital in the state during my term of office, to support and encourage staff and patients and to hear directly from them about their needs and concerns.  

My swearing-in may have marked the end of 16 years’ service as Queensland’s Chief Health Officer and of a long career in medical administration, but it did not mean that I would lessen my focus on health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.  

In fact, this has remained a priority for me, and I am proud to say that my visit to the Augathella Hospital has enabled me to add one of the last missing pieces to that enormous statewide picture of hospitals and health services.

During my visit, it was very encouraging to hear about the changes of recent years, especially the improvements in aged care accommodation, and to hear the positive plans to address this increasing need.  

Then there are the ongoing issues of workforce recruitment and retention, mental health, and the constant challenge of service delivery in a part of the world where people are still subject to the tyranny of distance.

But adaptation, enterprise, and creative solutions have been part of the life of this community and this region since the first runs were established in the 1860s and the drovers established their stock routes.

I’m proud to be able to claim a direct connection between this region and Government House through one of the very early settlers in this part of Queensland. One-hundred-and-sixty years ago, a young Scot name John Stevenson drove sheep from Rockhampton to Ravensbourne, not far north of here, and went on to acquire sufficient wealth to not only buy that run and several others, but to become a Member of Parliament and to buy and expand the building that is now Government House.  

I’m also delighted that Augathella has earned a permanent place in outback folklore.  

For as long as someone sings the tale of the ranting and roaring Queensland drovers heading for Augathella station, as John Williamson most recently has, Augathella will retain its deserved place in Australian history and legend.

Thank you again for the invitation to be with you today.