BUSHkids 90th Anniversary Celebrations

Representing the Premier, Member for Burnett, Mr Stephen Bennett MP; Deputy Premier, the Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP and Executive Councillors; Members of Parliament; BUSHkids Chair, Dr Neil Bartels OAM, CEO, Mr Carlton Meyn and Board Directors; Bundaberg BUSHkids Chair, Ms Judy Peters OAM; BUSHkids staff, sponsors and supporters; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

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

It is a great privilege to join you today to celebrate 90 years of BUSHkids providing pivotal and lasting support to children and families in Queensland’s regional, rural, and remote communities.

And let me begin by expressing my deepest concern for all those affected by the devastating flooding in central and western Queensland in recent days. In times of hardship, the resilience and community spirit of regional Queenslanders shines through, and organisations like BUSHkids play an essential role in supporting families through challenging times.

As Patron of the Royal Queensland Bush Children's Health Scheme, I am deeply honoured to be part of this milestone occasion, and to reflect on the incredible journey of a quintessentially Queensland organisation.

For close to a century, BUSHkids has ensured that children—regardless of where they live—have access to essential allied health services. The dream of my predecessor, Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, the 15^th Governor of Queensland, was as simple as it was visionary—to ensure children living in regional and remote parts of our state had access to the same quality of health care as those in towns and cities along our coastline.

The extraordinary philanthropic organisation he envisioned, and played a pivotal role in founding—the Queensland Bush Children’s Health Scheme—not only withstood the wartime scarcity that gave rise to its creation, but has endured and evolved, remaining a steadfast source of support for families across Queensland.

Today, it continues to provide essential services including speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology, and family health support, all free of charge.

It is, of course, a very different world, and a different Queensland, from the one Sir Leslie came to know so well in the years after 1932 when, by accounts, he travelled as far as the trains lines and roads would take him.

As a working doctor in regional Queensland, as Chief Health Officer for the entire state, and now as Governor, I have done a fair amount of travel around Queensland myself.

In my many trips to regional and remote areas, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges that these communities still face in accessing healthcare. And I have seen the incredible dedication of health professionals who work tirelessly to bridge these gaps.

BUSHkids embodies this same dedication, delivering services through its regional service centres, satellite sites, and innovative programs like the eKindy Pods and Healthy Outback Kids initiative.

In the words of your esteemed CEO, Mr Carlton Meyn, “Every child has so much to offer.”

Our collective responsibility—as government and community leaders, and as custodians and champions of this remarkable organisation—is to unlock that boundless potential.

We must work to break down the structural barriers that hinder so many Queensland children—whether due to geography, financial hardship, or both—ensuring that every ‘bush kid’ can thrive.

Today, we celebrate not just 90 years of impact, but the vision that will carry BUSHkids into the future.

Its commitment to expanding reach, embracing technology, strengthening partnerships, and fostering reconciliation with First Nations communities reflects an enduring dedication to equity and excellence in care.

None of this would be possible without the dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters who make up the BUSHkids family. Your work transforms lives, giving children the chance to reach their full potential.

To the Board and leadership team, your strategic foresight will ensure BUSHkids continues to evolve to meet the needs of Queensland communities.

As we honour this milestone, let us look ahead with optimism. The challenges are great, but so too are the opportunities to make a lasting difference—the BUSHkids way! Thank you.