Boys’ Brigade Queensland and Girls’ Brigade Queensland Presentation of Queen’s Badges and Awards

As Patron of both the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades in Queensland, it is my great pleasure, and Kaye’s, too, to welcome you all to Government House this evening for one of the most important events in the annual calendar of these two wonderful organisations – the presentation of Queen’s Badges and Awards.

I acknowledge Boys’ Brigade Queensland State President, Mr Dave Allen, Girls’ Brigade Queensland State Commissioner, Ms Joanna Waites, Senior Executive members of both wonderful organisations, Members of the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades including our Queen’s Badges and Queen’s Award recipients.

On this occasion, it is an added privilege for me, as Governor of our State, to represent Her Majesty The Queen in her role as Global Patron of the Brigades.

That both Brigades have regal patronage is testament to the tireless work done by leaders and members in promoting fundamental Christian values and beliefs throughout the world for well over a century.

While some today may question the contemporary relevance and importance of habits such as reverence and discipline, they remain core Christian values; I commend tonight’s awardees, their leaders and their families on their continued dedication to upholding them.

Those values have been combined with fine role models provided by the long and dedicated service of the Brigades’ leaders. Together, those two powerful influences have led these twenty-one young men and women to commit the time and effort needed to earn their awards.

The standards of knowledge, skill, leadership and service required to be awarded the Queen’s Badge or Queen’s Award make these, deservedly, the highest honours the Brigades can confer. On behalf of all Queenslanders, I wholeheartedly congratulate each of the recipients.

I note the attendance here of families from as far afield as Maryborough, Crows Nest, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Pine Rivers and the Gold Coast, as well as from throughout the Greater Brisbane Region. This indicates the high priority given to the Brigades in your family life, and I thank you all for making the effort to join Kaye and me, as well as the State’s Brigade leaders, for this ceremony.

Once more, I congratulate you all on your achievement in earning these awards, and look forward to meeting and speaking to you shortly. Thank you.