Swearing-in as Governor

Premier and Mrs Newman, Attorney-General of the Commonwealth representing the Prime Minister, Chief Justice and Mrs Carmody, Ministers, Madam Speaker, former Governors and Premiers, Leader of the Opposition, Your Honours, Councillor Schrinner representing the Lord Mayor, members of Parliament, heads of the Churches,  Chiefs of the Armed Services, members of the Consular Corps, distinguished ladies and gentlemen and younger Queenslanders… I am honoured to acknowledge first up those “younger Queenslanders” from schools that have been instrumental in my own development: Ithaca Creek State School and the Anglican Church Grammar School.  

To the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, who have traditionally been the custodians of these lands, I at once extend respectful greetings.

I thank you Premier and Ms Palaszczuk, for your words of welcome, and I thank you, Chief Justice, for administering the oath.  I did that myself a couple of times!

I now at once pay tribute to my predecessor Ms Penelope Wensley for her outstanding discharge of the duties of the Governor over the last six years.  Indeed, I pay tribute to all 25 of my predecessors, their service spanning 154 years of State history.  The people of Queensland have been very well-served by their Governors.

I stand before you, ladies and gentlemen, as an unremittingly proud Queenslander.  But I assume the Office with a sense of humility, and in a spirit of service.

Apart from constitutional responsibilities, and important ceremonial and civic duties, my other essential goals, as I see them, will be to seek to support, encourage and inspire all Queenslanders; and to do all I can to uphold and promote the advancement of our great State, and thereby the welfare of our people.  My wife Kaye joins me enthusiastically in embracing these challenges.

We have over our years travelled extensively throughout this State of which we are so fond, especially over my last 16 years as Chief Justice, and we have been privileged to meet many fine and inspiring people.  Now we look forward to the pleasure and privilege of meeting many more!

To that end, I make the pledge customary on these occasions, and importantly so, which is, to visit the people of all communities within the State over my term as Governor.

In moving from the high office of Chief Justice to the high office of Governor, I assure you, Mr Premier, that I will do my utmost, with my wife’s support, to vindicate the great confidence you have reposed in us, and I give that same assurance to all our fellow Queenslanders.

The last Chief Justice to have been appointed to this Office was Sir Walter Campbell, whose exemplary performance in the role stands as a model truly worthy of emulation. 

As to today’s memorable occasion, in anticipation I compliment the Royal guard and the Queensland Police Service mounted escort, who, through their turnout and drill, will I am confident exemplify the highest standard of impeccable ceremonial presentation.

The Queensland Police Service escort presents rightly, proudly in this their sesquicentenary year.

I also particularly thank our indigenous fellow citizens for their important participation, acknowledging their ancient attachment to these lands.  My mission is to serve all our fellow Queenslanders, service which will, I hope, be seen to be characterized by a spirit of reconciliation and togetherness.

And I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, young and older, for honouring the State, and the Governor as Her Majesty’s representative, by your most generous, supportive and loyal presence here this afternoon.