Government House Queensland
Meet Mac and Mary the squirrel gliders, and their kookaburra friend Goodwin.
These three Australian critters feature in the latest Government House children’s book, ‘A Place for All Queenslanders’, which was launched by Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young PSM on 16 November 2021.
The characters represent real-life species that live on the Government House estate in the Brisbane suburb of Paddington.
The estate, which is also known as Fernberg, has been the official residence of Queensland Governors since Sir William MacGregor and Lady MacGregor (after whom ‘Mac’ is named) took up residence in 1910.
Mac the squirrel glider was named after former Governor Sir William MacGregor
Fernberg includes 10 hectares of native Australian bushland, which was declared a Sanctuary for Animals and Birds in the 1920s by the State’s 14th Governor, Sir John Goodwin and Lady Goodwin (after whom ‘Goodwin’ is named).
Goodwin the kookaburra is named after former Governor Sir John Goodwin
Finally, Mary the squirrel glider is named after Queensland’s first female Governor, Mary Marguerite Leneen Forde.
Mary the squirrel glider is name after Queensland's first woman Governor Mary 'Leneen' Forde
Mary, Mac and Goodwin were designed by Brisbane illustrator, Amanda Letcher, based at JSACreative.
The book follows a day in the life of siblings Mac and Mary, who learn about the Governor’s constitutional, ceremonial and community duties, before being invited inside Government House by the Governor herself – ‘a place for everyone'.
Download your free copy of ‘A Place for All Queenslanders’ here.