Reception for the 90th anniversary of BUSHkids and launch of the publication ‘Sir Leslie Wilson – A Man of Honour’

Assistant Minister to the Premier on Matters of State and New Citizens, Member for Moggill, Dr Christian Rowan MP; Assistant Minister for Primary Industry Development, Water and Western Queensland, Member for Gregory, Mr Sean Dillon MP; Member for Southern Downs, Mr James Lister MP; Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Bruce Simpson; Bundaberg Regional Councillor Tracey McPhee; BUSHKids, Chair, Dr Neil Bartels OAM and Directors of the Board; CEO, Mr Carlton Meyn; descendants of the 15th Governor of Queensland and Founder of BUSHKids Sir Leslie Wilson; Friends of BUSHKids, staff; volunteers and supporters; 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 all First Nations people here this evening. 

It is my pleasure as Governor and proud Patron of the Royal Queensland Bush Children’s Health Scheme to welcome you to Government House to celebrate the 90th anniversary of BUSHkids. 

As we celebrate this special milestone, Graeme and I want to sincerely thank the entire BUSHkids family for nine decades of extraordinary service to Queensland’s rural and remote communities. Your work has touched countless lives and given thousands of bush kids the chance to reach their full potential. 

Tonight is extra special as it also gives us an opportunity to honour Colonel The Honourable Sir Lesley Orme Wilson – the 15th Governor of Queensland and the inspirational founder of BUSHkids – with the launch of a marvellous new publication titled “Sir Leslie Orme Wilson – a Man of Honour”. 

Graeme and I are especially delighted to have among our guests tonight descendants of Sir Leslie, including his grandson Charlie Wilson, granddaughters Lesley Wilson and Sally Richards, and great granddaughter Rachel Wilson. 

As we celebrate 90 years of BUSHkids, it’s fitting that we honour the man whose foresight and compassion laid the foundation for this remarkable organisation. 

Most of you will be very familiar with the inspirational story of Sir Leslie Wilson who became the inaugural president and patron of BUSHKids, with the latter being a role that every successive Governor of Queensland has proudly continued.  

Sir Leslie’s bold and compassionate dream of improving the health and welfare of children in rural and remote parts of this state is perhaps one of his most enduring gifts to Queensland. 

This new publication, “Sir Leslie Orme Wilson – a Man of Honour,”  offers a rich and compelling portrait of a man whose service spanned continents and causes – from military leadership to civic reform, from wartime resilience to social innovation.  

It includes the support of his wife Lady Wilson, and covers his role as a British politician, as Governor of Bombay, through to his journey to become the longest serving Governor of Queensland. 

Through this publication, his story will not be forgotten, and his legacy will continue to be shared and celebrated.  

I encourage all Queenslanders to discover the remarkable legacy documented within these pages. 

It now gives me enormous pleasure to officially launch this marvellous publication - “Sir Leslie Orme Wilson – a Man of Honour.”