Investiture Ceremony, Tuesday 9 September, 10am

Representing the Premier of Queensland, Leader of the House, Dr Christian Rowan MP; Commander, Combat Support Group, Royal Australian Air Force, Air Commodore Robert Graham; Consul-General of Japan in Queensland, Mr Katsutoshi Ishikawa; Chair, The Order of Australia Association Queensland Branch, Mrs Ronda Nix OAM; Australian Honours and Awards recipients, your family and friends; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen; boys and girls.

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

At this morning’s Investiture Ceremony, I have had the great privilege of presenting Australia’s highest honours and awards to Queenslanders who have won the respect and gratitude of us all for their contributions to society and to our nation, and I once again congratulate them on the medals they have received.

I also congratulate and thank the family members, friends and colleagues who have joined us. The level and extent of hard work and dedication that leads to an Australian honour or award is seldom possible without a strong network of support, and I am delighted you can be here to witness this medal presentation and share what is a special celebration.

Today’s Investiture Ceremony is the culmination of a process that began with notification from the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat, advising recipients they had been successfully nominated. Reading that message is a very exciting moment, but it’s inevitably followed by a flood of questions. ‘Why me?’ Or, ‘How did they find out about me?’ Perhaps even, ‘Who would have nominated me?’

And, unless that person tells you, you may never know the answer because in our system, any Australian can nominate any other citizen for an award. But nomination is just the first step. What follows is a long, detailed and exceptionally thorough process, conducted in the strictest confidence and completely free of external interference or influence.

That egalitarian approach and high level of integrity have been hallmarks of the Australian system since it was introduced 50 years ago this year. They are the features that make it unique and admired around the world and that assure you, as recipients, that your honour is a respected symbol of our nation’s gratitude.

Another special feature of our system is that honours can be awarded posthumously, and I take this opportunity to extend sympathy to those who have stepped forward today with such dignity and pride to accept medals on behalf of loved ones who have passed.

Our system also recognises that receiving an honour or award does not mark an end. Rather, it is one point in a lifelong journey. Recipients invariably keep on contributing as they have always done and, in some cases, they go on to be nominated for a higher honour.

That has happened in two instances today, and I particularly congratulate both Mr Clive Berghofer AO, previously appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, and Mrs Rachel Hunter AO PSM on being admitted to the rank of Officer of the Order of Australia.

The collective contribution to Australian society of today’s recipients is largely incalculable. The communities of the Gold Coast, Rockhampton, Maitland, Bundaberg, Canberra, Bateman’s Bay, Gladstone, Moreton Bay, Biloela, Bribie Island, the Whitsundays and Tasmania have all been singled out for particular mention in the citations you heard earlier.

In addition, the Indigenous, Japanese and Muslim communities of our state have been specifically identified as beneficiaries of the commitment and dedication of recipients.

The community-based charitable and service organisations through which recipients have contributed span the alphabet––from Apex to Zonta––and include Lions, Rotary, Lifeline, St Vincent de Paul, the Returned and Services League, the Men’s Shed movement, emergency response organisations and our churches.

That effort represents thousands of donated hours of time, expertise and sheer hard work as volunteers––and a significant contribution to sport, education, youth, nursing, health, housing, refugees, horticulture, marine rescue, security technology, local government and financial literacy, and to addressing addiction, as well as to business, the media, and public administration.

Collectively, this represents a truly remarkable gift to Australian society, and I once again congratulate today’s recipients.

Whether you have contributed through exceptional financial support and philanthropy, through your professional commitment, or through your work as a volunteer, you have each made a positive difference to the lives of your fellow Australians, and, on behalf of all Queenslanders, I thank you for that.

Wear your medals with pride!