Australian Honours and Awards Investiture Ceremony C

Chair, Order of Australia Association Queensland Branch, Mrs Ronda Nix OAM; Acting Official Secretary, Office of the Governor, Mr Scott Allen; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

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

As Governor, and the representative in our state of His Majesty King Charles The Third, the Sovereign Head of the Order of Australia, I welcome you all most warmly to Government House for today’s Investitures and congratulate the recipients on behalf of all Queenslanders on the honours bestowed upon them.

For each of you, today marks the culmination of a very long and careful process that has involved, literally, dozens of people: those who nominated you, the staff of the Awards Secretariat in the Office of the Governor-General, the men and women who provided confidential references, the 19 members of the Council of the Order of Australia, and the Governor-General herself — all have played a role in your acceptance as a citizen worthy of receiving our nation’s highest civilian honour possible: admission to the Order of Australia.

That thorough process of admission was instituted when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II signed the Letters Patent granting Australia its own Society of Honour in February 1975.

Our then Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, had approached Her Majesty about establishing a uniquely Australian system but he did not want it to have the aristocratic nature of the Imperial Honours or to have any taint of undue influence; he wanted an open, egalitarian system and was determined to protect its integrity and ensure that it had the confidence of the Australian people.

Fifty years on, Australia boasts one of the most highly respected systems of honours and awards in the world — community driven, open to all, and free from political bias or interference.

The strengths of that system are on full display in marvellous ceremonies such as this, held twice a year, in every state and territory, to celebrate the achievements of Australian citizens, and publicly honour and thank them for their contribution to our nation.

Taken collectively, the citations for the recipients here this afternoon demonstrate just how significant and widespread that contribution is and how much poorer our nation would be without the dedication, professionalism, and commitment that those citations represent.

In health alone, those contributions range from community health to orthopaedic, psychiatric and intensive care medicine.

In sport, they extend from boxing and gymnastics to netball, and sailing. Separately, there’s accomplishment in sectors as varied as disability, education, ocean mapping, multiculturalism, and volunteering.

It’s an extraordinary range and, at a time when there are so many divisive forces in society, these contributions truly are a gift to us all. They serve as fine examples of what it means to be a good citizen; they help us to foster kinder, more generous and collaborative communities; and they inspire us and make us aware of the possible.

The citation on your award certificate may be brief, but those few words, and the decoration you have received represent public recognition and I encourage you to wear your medal or lapel pin with pride.

Please enjoy your time at Government House, and this chance to celebrate your achievements with your guests.