Private Investiture Mr Vernon James Clark OAM

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, and Member for Nanango, the Honourable Deborah Frecklington MP; South Burnett Regional Councillors, Danita Potter and Deb Dennien; award recipient, Mr Vernon Clark OAM, your family and friends; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen. 

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.  

Good morning, everyone. Graeme and I are delighted to be here in Kingaroy for our first official visit. As Governor of Queensland, I have the great privilege of hosting Investiture Ceremonies to present outstanding Queenslanders with Honours and Awards they have earned under our unique Australian system.  

It is incredibly special to be able to today present Mr Vernon James Clark OAM with his Medal of the Order of Australia here in Kingaroy – fittingly acknowledged as the ‘peanut capital of Australia’ – surrounded by his friends and loved ones.  

Mr Clark is one of 114 remarkable Queenslanders recognised in the King’s 2025 Birthday Honours List last June, each of them honoured for outstanding achievements and contributions that have enriched communities across Queensland and the nation. 

As established in the citation read out earlier, Mr Clark is a well-known and highly respected member of the South Burnett community, though I suspect we have only just scratched the surface of his interesting and rewarding career in the field of engineering.  

He is, after all, considered a pioneer in manufacturing machinery for the peanut industry having founded Kingaroy Engineering Works in 1956, and subsequently built a distinguished career as an industry consultant. 

He is also no stranger to community recognition, having received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 South Burnett Regional Council Australia Day Awards.  

I understand that he is largely self-taught, which is unsurprising given the fact that engineers are renowned as problem-solvers who use their innate curiosity and creativity as much as their technical expertise, to find practical solutions to real-world challenges. 

Mr Clark’s ability to innovate has seen him contribute greatly to the economic performance of the peanut industry, and indeed this region. After founding Kingaroy Engineering Works, he began making harvesting equipment for the agriculture industry.  

Over the years, Kingaroy Engineering Works has manufactured peanut threshers and self-propelled headers, commercial maize fronts and various other specialised equipment.

Regarded as highly innovative in their day, these incredible machines have contributed greatly to economic production, and no doubt helped contribute to this region’s advancement. 

Mr Clark’s equipment has also been exported to the United States, Fiji and New Zealand.  

And while agricultural design and technology have continued to evolve, the wonderful history of this place–of which you are an integral part–is still amongst its most endearing features.   

The iconic, heritage-listed peanut silos in Haly Street remain a striking landmark, leaving visitors in no doubt about the importance of the peanut industry to the region, and the State. 

On behalf of all Queenslanders, I congratulate Mr Clark for his many achievements, and on receiving his Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his services to engineering and the significant impact of his expertise on our agricultural economy. 

Graeme and I look forward to meeting you all today and sharing stories over a cup of tea. Thank you.