Girl Guides Queensland 2015 Queen’s Guide and Adult Awards

Speech by Mrs Kaye de Jersey: It is a great pleasure and honour for me, as Patron of Girl Guides Queensland, to welcome you all to Government House for this evening’s ceremony.  I acknowledge members of the Queensland Girl Guides community, particularly the State Commissioner and other senior representatives, award recipients, ladies and gentlemen.

As some of you will already know, Government House has special significance for Guiding in Queensland because it was in this very house, in nineteen-nineteen, that Lady Elsie Goold-Adams, the wife of the then Governor, convened a meeting to establish the Association in this State.

It is a privilege for me to continue that long, vice-regal connection and I wear my beautiful Patron’s badge with great pride, as a symbol of my commitment to supporting the Movement here in Queensland.

For me, being your Patron is far more than a ceremonial role; it is a unique opportunity to be directly involved with a wonderful organisation with more than ten million members, world-wide.

Tonight, my position as Patron also gives me the pleasure of congratulating the newest Queen’s Guides, and presenting Emu, Wattle and Olave Baden-Powell awards. Collectively, the nine recipients of service awards at this ceremony have been dedicated to Guiding for more than a hundred and seventy years!

I commend all the awardees on the hard work and perseverance which have earned them their honours, and thank the many people who have mentored and encouraged them along the way. I look forward to meeting you all after the ceremony.

Thank you.