Guide Dogs Queensland 2026 Graduation Ceremony

Ambassador of Netherlands, Her Excellency Mrs Ardi Stoios-Braken; Representing the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor for the Bracken Ridge Ward, Councillor Sandy Landers; Guide Dogs Queensland Board Chair Ms Leanne Muller and Board Directors; CEO, Mr Jock Beveridge; staff; donors; volunteers; graduates and your family and friends; distinguished guests. 

I 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 today. 

I am delighted to be with you for this morning’s very special graduation ceremony, which I know is an annual highlight in the Guide Dogs Queensland calendar. 

As Patron, I am immensely proud of the longstanding commitment this iconic organisation has made to the independence and dignity of Queenslanders with low vision or blindness, through programs and services that deliver crucial support and transform lives.   

This morning we celebrate the way mobility and orientation training—and the supports that go with it—help people navigate their world with confidence, leading to greater autonomy and participation.  

We pay tribute to our graduates, and to everyone who has helped them reach this moment: the skilled instructors; families and friends; and the volunteers, donors and supporters behind every successful partnership. I know the journey to today has taken tremendous time, effort and diligence. 

And, of course, for the Guide Dogs, their work began as newborns, in the Guide Dogs Nursery, and then over many months with their Puppy Raisers and trainers, as they learned the instructions and abilities required to be responsive and capable—with the temperament needed to cope with complex environments, and to form the close relationships with their handlers, which underpins all they do.  

It is compassion, care and understanding that makes Guide Dogs Queensland such a trusted force in our state—and it is matched by real impact.  

Over the past year, the team has extended its reach in rural Queensland, delivering thousands of appointments, and the organisation’s first Social Impact Report shows that many clients feel they have greater choice, independence and optimism for the future.

This comes from within the organisation itself, and it is reflected in the remarkable altruism of those who give so generously of their time or funds; it also drives strong advocacy, with education and awareness campaigns reaching almost 14 million Australians last year.  

As Guide Dogs Queensland continues its growth under its 2024–2030 strategic plan, I commend each one of you for your outstanding support. 

I also thank the Board, the executive and staff for developing and implementing the strategies and initiatives that are in tune with contemporary needs and have personalisation at their core. 

Today, our graduates step into a world of exciting new possibilities, and I cannot think of a more powerful, uplifting way to demonstrate what can be achieved when a sense of togetherness is blended with—if you don’t mind me saying—dogged determination.  

Congratulations everyone!