Order of Australia Association Conference Reception

The 22nd Administrator of the Northern Territory and National President of the Order of Australia Association, the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran AO CVO; National Chairman, Order of Australia Association, Major General Barry Nunn AO RFD ED (Rtd), Board Members and office holders, including the Nominated Directors of all States and Territories; Chair of the Order of Australia Association Queensland Branch, Ms Ronda Nix OAM and the many distinguished guests here this evening; welcome. 

I acknowledge 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 any First Nations people here this evening. 

Good evening. I am delighted to welcome you all to Government House, and we extend a particularly warm welcome to visitors from other Australian States and Territories. I hope you will take the opportunity to explore Brisbane and beyond before you return home. 

As Patron of the Order of Australia Association in Queensland, it is wonderful to be able to host you on the occasion of your annual national conference – for the first time since we last hosted here in 2017. Back then, my immediate predecessor, the Honourable Paul de Jersey, hosted a reception here during your conference, while another former Governor of Queensland, the Honourable Penelope Wensley, was your keynote speaker.  

Much has changed for the Association in the nine years since then: 

• we farewelled Queen Elizabeth the Second as Sovereign Head of the Order and welcomed King Charles the Third as her successor; 

• we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Australia’s unique system of honours and awards; and 

• we weathered 32 extraordinary months of COVID-19, during which time organisations like yours sought to adapt and continue supporting their members, networks and the broader community. 

All of it has underscored how important it is to nurture social cohesion, strengthen trust, and stay connected. 

As Queensland’s Chief Health Officer during the pandemic, I saw its impact on Australians and on voluntary organisations like this one. 

I also saw the adaptability and resilience of this Association as it embraced the telephone and internet, moved meetings and events online, and, despite two annual conferences not going ahead, and carried those lessons forward, re-emerging in 2023 with renewed purpose, greater efficiency, and a new strategic plan. 

That plan is clearly focused on growing and retaining membership and community engagement; increasing the number and diversity of nominations; investing in community partnerships and projects; and ensuring strong, ongoing support for the Foundation and its flagship Scholarship program. 

It has been very pleasing to see that momentum continue and I commend the Association on all that it does to promote kindness, respect and the relevance and importance of outstanding Australian citizenship and on its ambitious vision to build “a bridge to the future”—particularly by supporting the next generation of leaders through the Association’s valuable Scholarships.  

The program planned for this conference is exceptional5 and I congratulate the conference planning committee and the Board on bringing together such a diverse and interesting range of speakers, presenters and experiences.  

I wish the Association well as new leaders step into their governance and management roles6, and wish you all three days of stimulating ideas, new connections, and innovative solutions as you continue to strive to make a difference. 

Thank you.