Torres Strait Island Regional Council Community Lunch

Representing Mayor, Torres Strait Island Regional Council, Councillor Kabay Tamu (pron. Tar-moo); Councillor Francis Pearson; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands on which we gather and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Graeme and I are delighted to welcome you as our guests for this special community lunch and to have this opportunity to meet and talk to you all.

When I was first sworn in as Governor of Queensland, almost five years ago, I made a public promise to serve, acknowledge and support Queenslanders wherever they live.

I also pledged that, with the support of my husband, Graeme, I would be a Governor for all of Queensland, and travel widely throughout the State, including to remote communities such as this.

I am particularly pleased that we have been able to return to this beautiful part of our State for a second visit. On the first occasion, three and a half years ago, our very busy itinerary took us only to Thursday Island, but that experience whetted my appetite to return and discover more about the many different communities and cultures of the Strait.

I am certainly not the first Governor of Queensland to be enchanted by this region, and all of those who have visited have been drawn by the rich history and tradition of these islands and have left here with lasting memories of the experience and of the people they have met.

In the case of Sir John Lavarck, our 16th Governor, those memories were particularly powerful.

Sir John had served with distinction as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Army in the Second World War, and in 1948 he undertook a 13-day tour of the Strait and the Northern Cape in the naval frigate H.M.A.S. Condamine, visiting four islands, including Poruma.

The focus of Sir John’s visit was to meet and personally acknowledge the people of the Strait for their service during the War when an estimated 50 per cent of the total male population had joined the Torres Strait Infantry Battalion.

Many of those men and their families made their way to Poruma in July 1948 to meet Sir John, some of them traveling more than 200 kilometres from other islands to join the festivities.  

But before the celebrations could begin, there was one small problem – how to transfer Sir John from H.M.A.S. Condamine to the shore when there was no jetty.

The response of the people of Poruma was eminently practical – they simply waded out to the ship, lifted the Governor onto their shoulders, and carried him to the shore through the heavy surf.

I must admit that Graeme and I are very relieved that, today, the Torres Strait Island Regional Council owns and manages an extensive network of airports,4 but this community lunch and our visit today will be just as memorable as Sir John’s was for him, almost 80 years ago.

Thank you again for accepting the invitation to join us for this lunch and for welcoming us so warmly into your community. We look forward to meeting you all and hearing your stories.