Innisfail Community Event

Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Deputy Mayor, Councillor Nicholas Pervan and Councillors; Senior officers and representatives from our emergency services, including the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Fire Department and Queensland Ambulance Service; distinguished guests.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands on which we are gathered, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here today.

Graeme and I are delighted to be with you all today, and we thank you for making us feel so welcome.

When I was sworn in as Governor, almost five years ago, one of my key goals was to travel to every local government area in our state, and to meet the people and see the places that contribute to Queensland’s vitality—and I am pleased to report that I will fulfil this objective before my term ends!

While this is my first Vice-Regal trip to Innisfail, it is a something of a “walk down memory lane” for Graeme, who lived and worked in town many years ago.

There is no doubt, the Cassowary Coast area is spectacular, and that Innisfail has so much to offer residents and visitors—including the beautiful riverside park we’re meeting in today. Along with its amazing natural and man-made attractions, this region—with its rich soil and abundant rainfall—is a significant agricultural and horticultural producer for Queensland, helping us earn our global reputation for delivering exceptional quality and yields.

However—as the emergency services personnel with us this morning will agree—the Wet Tropics is also suspectable to the changing moods of the Coral Sea; with cyclones and tropical lows an ever-present threat.

In fact, I had planned to visit Innisfail in January this year, but a flood threat from ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji stopped us at Ingham and we were forced to turn back.

Since 1918, there have been seven major Cyclones here, and the associated flooding and destructive winds have caused extensive damage to homes, crops, property and livelihoods, and taken or threatened lives.

The massive 1918 cyclone destroyed all but 12 of the town’s buildings, and although it took place over 20 years ago now, I am sure Cyclone Larry remains etched into the memories of many, particularly the banana growers who lost the majority of their crops.

More recently, while Innisfail and the wider Cassowary Coast were spared the worst of the effects of March’s tropical low, these sorts of events are a reminder, that in times of trouble, it takes an incredible community spirit to confront such challenges, and to recover from them.

This morning, I commend the efforts of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillors and staff of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council to ensure this community has the support it needs to bounce back.

I also commend members of the Local Disaster Management Group, and all of the remarkable organisations and individuals, particularly the first responders, who have helped the local communities through disasters, but who are also determined to improve and enrich the region any way you can.

Whether you are a professional or a volunteer—you have applied your training, expertise, experience and above all, courage, to ensure that people are safe and secure; yet you are also committed to ensuring that this community flourishes into the future…and I am immensely proud to stand among you today.

Innisfail’s strength is built on the diversity of its people—and this rich multicultural heritage, plus enduring passion for place, have generated a deep sense of connection and fellowship that is extremely powerful.

Projects such as the development of the Port of Mourilyan4 underpin a strong economic focus for the region, but I know that it takes the determination and generosity of its people to make a locality truly thrive.

Thank you again for demonstrating this in such an outstanding way.