Order of Australia Association QLD Annual Secondary School Citizenship Awards

Member for Southport, Mr Robert (Rob) Molhoek MP; Member for Mulgrave, Mr Terry James MP; Mayor Bundaberg Regional Council, Councillor Helen Blackburn; Chair, The Order of Australia Association, Queensland Branch, Mrs Ronda Nix OAM; Awards Sponsor, Mrs Gina Fairfax AC; Judging panellists; Secondary Schools Citizenship Awardees; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

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.

As the 27^th Governor of Queensland, I am delighted to join you for the Order of Australia Association’s 27^th presentation of these Secondary School Citizenship Awards and Community Service Certificates in Queensland.

Established in 1999, these awards have gone from strength to strength, honouring young people who’ve gone above and beyond to exemplify the meaning of service in their schools and our local communities.

As Patron of the Order of Australia Association in Queensland, I am honoured to support these awards, and to witness the awards’ sponsor, Mrs Gina Fairfax AC, present the Certificates of Community Service. I am deeply grateful for the generous and enduring support provided by Gina Fairfax and her husband, Tim Fairfax AC, for not only these awards but their enduring philanthropic commitment to our state across many areas of community life.

This year the Association received 100 high-calibre nominations from students representing 67 schools across the state — once again creating a difficult task for the judging panel.

Given the quality of the applications, the Association this year will issue 13 Secondary School Citizenship Awards, instead of the usual 12. Those students receiving these Citizenship Awards come from as far away as Gordonvale, Bundaberg, Yeppoon, the Sunshine and Gold Coasts, as well as Brisbane.

And I particularly acknowledge and welcome those students, teachers and family members who’ve travelled vast distances to join us here at Parliament House for this special occasion this afternoon.

The final year of high school can be a tremendously stressful time for some students, with huge demands on their available time as they prepare for exams, juggle part-time work, sporting commitments, friendships, family obligations and community service.

So those receiving today’s awards are not only outstanding young citizens, they have also shown us they are generous, compassionate and resourceful leaders who clearly excel at time management!

Today we recognise their impressive contributions and genuine willingness to improve the world around them — which you’ll hear more about as their citations are read shortly.

I extend my sincere thanks to their dedicated teachers and acknowledge the tremendous support provided by their parents and family members.

I thank the Queensland branch of the Order of Australia Association for continuing to invest in this important initiative which promotes the highest ideals of citizenship among our youth, and — ultimately — helps foster a strong, inclusive, compassionate and democratic society.

And, I acknowledge the arduous efforts of the judging panel, and the ongoing commitment of the Association’s volunteers, including long-serving Awards Coordinator Mr Geoff Cowles OAM.

On behalf of all Queenslanders, I offer my congratulations to those students receiving a Citizenship Award or Community Service Certificate. Queensland is a far richer and more compassionate society because of your positive and generous contributions.

I wish each of you enormous success in your future endeavours.