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27th Governor of Queensland Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM

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Luncheon in honour of Sister Angela Mary Doyle AO RSM

The 25th Governor-General of Australia and 24th Governor of Queensland, The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO; our guest of honour, Sister Angela Mary Doyle AO RSM, your family and friends; Mater Foundation Chair, Ms Virginia Ryan and Patrons, Mr Terry Jackman AO and Mrs Jodie Jackman; Foundation staff past and present; distinguished guests.

I begin by also 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 this afternoon.

Sister Angela Mary, as Governor of Queensland, it is a privilege to host this intimate luncheon here at Government House together with your family and close friends, to not only celebrate your 100th birthday–– which is today––but also in recognition of the enormous esteem in which you are held across this state and country.

Throughout your life you have made many Vice-Regal friends including former Queensland Governors Leneen Forde and Dame Quentin Bryce, who is with us here today. We are all honoured to have known you and the important work you have championed in the health care sector in Queensland.

It is wonderful to have such a strong contingent of your family members who have all travelled from Dublin to be with us here today. I extend a warm welcome to Queensland to you all and hope you enjoy spending time in the Sunshine State. I also welcome your close friend Sister Fay McMeniman and many of your dear friends from the Mater.

I understand there are a number of events being planned to celebrate your birthday and the outstanding contributions you have made to public life in Queensland.

Among these include an event at Customs House on Friday night for Mater Foundation patrons. The following day, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress will host a reception at City Hall, where Leneen, Dame Quentin and your good friend, Her Honour Patsy Wolfe, will be spilling the beans on some of your endeavours, via interviews with Channel 9’s Melissa Downs.

Though I am not sure there are too many beans to spill that we don’t already know about!

We know you have had a long-standing connection to the Mater since 1948, a year after arriving from Ireland to Australia. Since then, you have been an integral, influential and inspiring member of the Mater community, helping to raise tens of millions of dollars for medical research and new health services.

You have been a strong supporter of health care reforms for Queenslanders living with HIV/AIDS, for the Taiwanese and First Nations communities, and more recently you have helped raise funds to establish Catherine’s House which delivers mental health services for new parents suffering anxiety and depression.

Over the years, you have received many awards and accolades, from Queenslander of the Year to an Order of Australia.

But perhaps the most important part of your legacy has been your enduring compassion and empathy for others.

On behalf of all Queenslanders, I thank you for your lifetime of service and care. And, importantly, I join with everyone here today in wishing you a very joyous 100th birthday. I hope you enjoy today’s luncheon.