Charleville Community Afternoon Tea

Mayor, Shire of Murweh, Councillor Shaun Radnedge; Deputy Mayor, Councillor Peter Alexander; Councillors Robert Eckel, Teri Sommerfield and Michelle Ebsworth; Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bruce Scott OAM; Deputy Board Chair, South West Hospital and Health Service, Mr Ethan Capewell; Queensland Police Service, South-West District Inspector Neil King; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

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

At the outset, I thank Mayor Radnedge and the Councillors and staff of Murweh Shire for inviting Graeme and me to share afternoon tea with you today.

We are both very aware of the unsettling impact of the tragic event that occurred here in early August.  

We also know how important it is to rebuild connections and restore trust in the safety of your community at a time like this and I take this opportunity, on behalf of all Queenslanders, to wish you strength and hope as you look to the future.

A visit to this marvellous region has one of my goals ever since I was sworn in as Governor, five years ago. Back then, I set myself the target of visiting every one our State’s 78 Local Government Areas during my term, because, I strongly believed then (and still do) that one of the most important things I can do as Governor is to support and encourage Queenslanders, wherever they may live in our vast state.

It’s a belief and commitment that has been shared by Governors of Queensland ever since we first became an independent Colony in 1859, despite the challenges of reaching our most remote areas.

Sir John Lavarack, our 16th Governor, met the challenge and set an example for all his successors in 1948 when he visited communities in the Torres Strait to personally acknowledge their service during the Second World War.  

Sir John’s 13-day tour was by sea and included visiting one island where there was no jetty. The solution was for the local residents to wade out to the ship and carry the Governor ashore through the surf on their shoulders.

Another example of determination to reach remote communities occurred fifty years before that, when Sir Henry Norman made a truly epic, month-long journey through Far North Queensland. The Vice-Regal party on that occasion first sailed from Cairns to the Gulf around Cape York and then returned to Cairns overland by horse-drawn buggy.

Irrespective of how difficult it can be, then or now, for Governors to reach remote areas of our state, the warmth and generosity of the welcome in those communities has made it very worthwhile — for the Governors as much as for the hosts!

When Sir Henry Norman presented a public lecture here in Charleville in 1895 to promote the importance of reading and self-improvement, the School of Arts was packed; when Sir Matthew Nathan came here in 1924 to unveil the soldiers’ memorial, over two-thousand people attended the event; and when Sir Leslie Wilson visited in 1945, the town’s pride in the outreach and success of its ambulance centre was palpable.  

Experiencing that sense of pride in the communities I visit has been one of the genuine pleasures of my time as Governor, and I am delighted to say that Graeme and I have seen it repeatedly over the past three days.

We have seen it in visits to hospitals and other facilities; in meetings with your civic leaders and regular Council staff; in gatherings like this; even in this building itself which has now stood at the heart of this community for 100 years.  

Civic pride, resilience and social cohesion spring from empathy, generosity and shared effort.  

It is clear that those qualities are present in abundance in Charleville in the many organisations that serve this community from the emergency and health services and schools to the QCWA and the Men’s Shed, of which Graeme and I are proud Patrons. Also here today are members of the Merweh Youth Council. This regional initiative, which connects young people aged 12-25 with local government and health programs, provides a wonderful platform for the empowerment of young leaders to voice community concerns, engage in local governance, and help plan regional youth activities.

Before wrapping up for a cup of tea and the chance to chat with each of you, I would also like to acknowledge another guest here today, and someone I imagine is well known to many of you — Mr John Wallace ESM.

This is the first of two meetings I will have with John this month. Next week, at a special Investiture Ceremony at Government House, I will present him with the Emergency Services Medal, recognising more than three decades of distinguished service with the Queensland State Emergency Service and his outstanding support for communities across Queensland.

Congratulations John, and I’m glad I could acknowledge your award here, surrounded by your community who I know will be thrilled that you have been recognised for your service in this way.

Thank you again for welcoming us so warmly; we look forward to meeting and hearing from you all.