Private Investiture Ceremony for Patricia Barry OAM and Lynda Barry OAM

Mrs Patricia Barry OAM and Mrs Lynda Barry OAM; your family and friends; Deputy President of the Royal Life Saving Society Queensland and Life member of the Ithaca-Caloundra City Life Saving Club, Mr James McClelland BM OAM; Club members, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.  

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

Good morning, everyone. I am delighted you can join us here at beautiful Bulcock Beach to share in this memorable occasion, an Investiture Ceremony to confer the Medal of the Order of Australia upon two very deserving recipients. 

As Governor, I have the rare and special privilege of hosting ceremonies like this one to honour outstanding Queenslanders.  

Most often, I congratulate those honoured under our unique Australian Honours and Awards each year at a handful of very formal ceremonies held at Government House in Brisbane. 

On occasion, I am able to travel to other parts of our magnificent and incredibly diverse State, hosting ceremonies in some very different locations. Over the past year, I have hosted ceremonies in private homes, public libraries, art galleries, and even aged care facilities from Ingham to Townsville, Kingaroy to the Gold Coast. I was even able to honour one recipient on beautiful Mornington Island in the remote Gulf of Carpentaria, with entire community gathered around and a festive barbecue held afterward.  

However, I am delighted to inform you all that this is most certainly the first Investiture Ceremony I have hosted on a beach! You really couldn’t get more Queensland than this, I think you’ll agree! 

Today we honour two remarkable Queenslanders, whose names have become synonymous with lifesaving at the Ithaca-Caloundra City Life Saving Club: Patricia and Lynda Barry. 

What makes this ceremony even more special is the opportunity to formally bestow Patricia and Lynda with their respective Medals of the Order of Australia on the very location where they have spent thousands of hours patrolling to ensure the safety of visitors and locals alike–Bulcock Beach. 

As the reading of their citations revealed, the honours bestowed today recognise outstanding volunteer service and dedication to lifesaving and to water safety education and training over many decades. 

These Honours not only reflect what they have achieved but speak to the countless people whose lives have been protected and inspired by their work, including our next generation of young lifesavers. 

Since joining the Ithaca-Caloundra City Life Saving Club, Patricia has spent almost 4,500 volunteer hours patrolling Bulcock Beach, while Lynda has volunteered for more than 6,000 hours.  

Weekend after weekend during the peak beachgoing season, Patricia and Lynda have not only shown up––they have each offered a familiar face and a reassuring presence, not to mention a steady set of hands during incidents ranging from swimmer rescues and other serious emergencies, including boat roll-overs and recreational injuries, to the provision of first-aid to treatment for scrapes and stings. 

Indeed, lifesaving is something of a family past-time for the Barrys, with Lynda’s husband Paul and Patricia’s husband Tony also Life Members of the Ithaca-Caloundra City Life Saving Club, having been actively involved over many decades. 

Inspired by their parents’ commitment to community service, Lynda and Paul’s two daughters are now qualified paramedics2, currently working in the United Kingdom. I am sure they would have loved to be here, particularly with today being Mother’s Day. However, I am equally confident that their commitment to their roles, and sense of service to others as modelled by you throughout their young lives, fills you with immense pride. 

I know that your family members, friends and fellow Club members who are gathered here today are immensely proud of all that both of you have achieved, and I thank them for the support they have shown both of you over the years. 

As the proud Patron of both the Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland and Surf Life Saving Queensland, and on behalf of all Queenslanders, I commend your enduring dedication to making our beaches a safer place for all and congratulate you once more on the honours you have received today. 

Thank you.