Friends of the Queensland Police Museum Sword Presentation and Tour

Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Cameron Harsley; President of the Friends of the Queensland Police Museum, Mr Robert Burns APM; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

I am honoured to host you this morning at Government House, not only on account of the ceremony that will soon take place, but also because this occasion allows me to recognise the incredible work that you do to preserve our State’s policing history.

Like all historical preservation, I presume that maintaining and showcasing items of interest from the field of policing is no doubt a very interesting one.

The past and the present proudly come together at the Queensland Police Museum, which boasts displays dating back to the museum’s earliest days, when nearly 130 years ago, in November of 1893, police officers were instructed to contribute items of interest from the orbit of their daily duties.

These relics and reminders of the dangers inherent in policing prompt us often to show our gratitude for the work that police officers do every day. Such work is more than worthy of a museum to highlight the artefacts of a life of weighty service.

To you – the Friends of the Queensland Police Museum – thank you for keeping this history alive for all Queenslanders. Since your first committee meeting in 2007, you have worked to honour the role of policing in Queensland communities and showcase the significance of the police service.

You work across a range of roles – supporting the Queensland Police Museum in unpacking and expounding on the history of policing in our great State, procuring items for the collection, and restoring the graves of police officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The ceremonial sword which I am being presented today was created and manufactured to commemorate the 150^th anniversary in 2013 of the formation of the Queensland Police Force – now the Queensland Police Service.

In so many ways, it speaks to the connection of policing and governing.

It speaks to the maintenance of order and respect within communities.

And it speaks to a way of life that we have come to enjoy and to expect.

I am looking forward to accepting the sword on behalf of Queenslanders and displaying it here at Fernberg in the Spouse’s Corridor for our many visitors to admire and enjoy.

Thank you. I hope you enjoy the morning tea and tour of the Fernberg Estate.