National Council of Women’s of Queensland President’s Dinner

Thank you, Madam President, for your kind welcome. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Kaye and I acknowledge you all.

We are very pleased to join you in my capacity as the National Council of Women of Queensland Patron, continuing a proud tradition of vice-regal patronage that began when Lady Chelmsford – the wife of Queensland’s 10^th Governor – became the Council’s first Patron shortly after its formation in 1905. That link has continued unbroken ever since.

There is an additional source of pride to Kaye’s and my presence – we are Patron of a large number of organisations under the Council’s umbrella.

But we support all of your endeavours, united under the Council’s wider mantra of promoting positive participation in all aspects of community life by encouraging women – and indeed, men – to unite, work, develop, act and link.

I am also delighted to support your work as Governor of Queensland, as is Kaye.

It is timely, on the eve of my opening Queensland’s 55^th Parliament, that I mention Ms Irene Longman, the first woman ever elected to Queensland Parliament in 1929 and a former National Council of Women of Queensland President.  

Ms Longman’s principal concern was for the welfare of women, and, particularly, children. Like many of you, she wonderfully emulates that spirit of service I seek to support in the fulfilment of my duties as Governor.  

Ms Longman’s place is our history is assured. At tomorrow’s Parliament opening, our first female Indigenous MP will rightly take her place alongside Ms Longman. Indeed, I recently swore in Ms Enoch to the current Ministry, conspicuous in its formation as the first in Australia’s history to include more women than men.

These milestones are significant and indicative of wider community progress.

I have always considered it somewhat odd that we need to be ‘sold’ axiomatic messages – ‘that men and women are equal’, ‘that no one gender has a monopoly over ability’; that we do not all accept these as self-evident and at once live by them.

Growing community denunciation against the scourge of family and domestic violence, and brave Aimee Gallichan who publicly recounted her battle against the ‘monster’ of anorexia on the front page of last Thursday’s Courier Mail are, however, reminders of the manifest benefits that role models – on both sides of the gender divide – play in crafting an inclusive, caring tone for our society. Such a tone optimises everybody’s opportunity to reach their full potential.

Asserting responsibility for this is something you all do magnificently in your capacities, as supporters, staff, board members or volunteers of this remarkable organisation, and affiliate organisations the Council so ably represents. You conspicuously bring your care and generosity to bear for the betterment of women, and more broadly our social cohesion.  This is a truly wonderful thing. Thank you, it is a pleasure to be in the company of all of you for tonight’s highly memorable occasion.