RNA High Tea Fundraiser 2025

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, the Honourable Deb Frecklington MP; RNA High Tea Committee Chair, Mrs Jane Thomas, and Committee members; distinguished guests.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

As Governor and Patron of the RNA, I am very pleased to be here today for this important fundraiser to assist the Longreach School of Distance Education to purchase new musical instruments for BUSHkids, and I thank the High Tea Committee for providing me with this opportunity to speak.

I have been delighted to see that from the very first event 10 years ago, the Committee has been focused on supporting the education, health and welfare of Queensland children living in the Outback.

In the first two years of fundraising, the Schools of Distance Education in Longreach, Charleville, Mount Isa and Charters Towers were the beneficiaries, followed in 2017 by the Queensland Children’s Hospital School which offers world-class educational programs to children who are hospitalised here in Brisbane.

In 2018, remote students in Years 7 to 10 were supported through funds donated to the Western Alliance at the Mount Isa School of the Air, and, a year later, support went to the allied health services offered by BUSHkids.

BushED was the final beneficiary, before the two bleak COVID years when there was no Ekka.

BushED has its roots deep in the most remote parts of our State and has been nurtured from the very beginning by passionate women and men who know, from many years of personal experience, that raising and educating children in the bush is not for the faint-hearted.

It takes determination, commitment and patience. It requires significant material, financial and emotional resources. And it consumes a great deal of that most precious commodity of all time. In short, it’s one of the toughest jobs in the bush.

So on behalf of the thousands of bush families who deal with this challenge daily, I heartily commend Committee Chair Jane Thomas and her hard-working team on their impactful work to date.

It has been particularly pleasing for me to see the Committee’s choice of charities over the eight High Teas organised since 2015. When I was sworn in as Governor, almost four years ago, I made a public pledge to promote the education, health and welfare of all Queenslanders… …especially our First nations peoples and those living in regional and remote areas.

I once again congratulate and thank the High Tea Committee, led by Jane, for its efforts and thank the hostesses and the very generous donors of auction items and raffle prizes.

Last year, this event raised just over $46,000, so I would encourage you all to bid enthusiastically in the auction and, if you have not already done so, to buy raffle tickets.

A round total of $50,000 this year would enable the Longreach School of Distance Education to provide musical instruments to even more children, and we all know that music is so important for educational outcomes.

Just by being here today, you have helped to create a brighter––and more musical––future for them. Thank you all!