Consecration and Presentation of Colours to the 8th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment

Representing the Premier and Minister for Veterans, Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Honourable Tim Mander MP; The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Adrian Schrinner; Royal Australian Regiment Colonel Commandant, Major General Christopher Field DSC, AM, CSC; Commander 7^th Brigade, Brigadier Giles Cornelia DSM, CSM; Royal Australian Infantry Head of Corps, Brigadier David McCammon, DSM and Bar; Former 8/9 RAR Commanding Officer and Chief of Army, Lieutenant General (Retd) Peter Leahy AC; Former 8/9 RAR Commanding Officer, Major General (Retd) Adrian Clunies-Ross AO, MBE; Commander Land Forces Royal Fiji Military Forces, Brigadier-General Onisivoro Covunisaqa; Members of the 8th/9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, and Members of The Royal Fiji Military Forces; 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 all First Nations people here this morning.

As Governor of Queensland and Honorary Colonel of The Royal Queensland Regiment, I am proud to join with you today to bear witness to the historic and marvellous spectacle that unfolded in the streets of Brisbane City earlier today.

The granting of Freedom of Entry into the City of Brisbane for the 8/9^th Battalion, along with the consecration and presentation of new Colours for the 8^th Battalion, and the subsequent parade with colours flying and drums beating, were indeed impressive––and moving––displays.

From the outset, I want to acknowledge and congratulate everyone involved in organising and participating in today’s events––which are steeped in tradition, symbolism and civic pride.

Today’s events mark the belated 50^th anniversary of the 8/9^th Battalion, which was formed in October 1973. I say ‘belated’ as today represents the Battalion’s third attempt at these celebrations, having had to abandon its previous two plans due to overseas deployments.

Today, finally, we have been able to formally mark the Battalion’s five decades of service to our nation and its enduring relationship with the City of Brisbane where it has rightly earned, and upheld, the title of ‘Brisbane’s Own’.

As the representative of His Majesty King Charles The Third in Queensland it gave me enormous pride to present the 8^th Battalion with its new King’s and Regimental Colours. This act was a deeply significant moment, with the Colours being revered symbols of the spirit of a Regiment, its loyalty, devotion to duty and sacrifice. They bear the battle honours of past campaigns, the memory of fallen comrades, and the spirit of those who serve today.

May the new Colours carry the spirit of the 8^th Battalion into the future and inspire new generations of soldiers to serve as the men and women of the 8/9 Battalion have – with honour, courage and distinction.

They have been deployed on various operations including to Vietnam, East Timor, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Cyprus, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and to many other smaller missions around the world.

Locally, they have been central in assisting with disaster recovery and clean-up operations during the 1974 Brisbane floods, and with search and rescue operations during the severe flooding at Grantham in the Lockyer Valley in 2011.

Today, the 8/9^th Battalion continues to serve as a vital component of the 7^th Brigade, maintaining readiness for domestic support, regional engagement, and global operations. In serving our nation, members of The Royal Australian Regiment have truly lived up to the Regimental motto ‘Duty First’.

In closing, I acknowledge and thank the Lord Mayor for generously hosting today’s civic reception and, importantly, for granting the Battalion’s Freedom of Entry to the city, for the first time since 2016.

As Governor and on behalf of the people of Queensland, I join the Lord Mayor in congratulating the 8/9^th Battalion on its 50^th anniversary and thank its officers and soldiers for their enduring service to the people of Queensland and Australia.

I thank all Australian Defence Force personnel here today for the central role they play in protecting our nation and supporting peacekeeping arrangements. Your service matters deeply to all of us.

May the Battalion’s Colours fly high, and may your members continue to serve with honour, courage and distinction.