Honours and Awards within the Australian Honours System - Investiture Ceremony (D) for Residents of Queensland

Kaye and I are honoured to welcome to this grand heritage building, a hundred and fifty years old this year, our distinguished recipients, their proud families and friends, and our official guests. Over those 150 years, the House has welcomed many prominent and powerful people. Its walls have borne mute witness to countless events which have had an important impact on the history of our State.

 The contributions we recognise through these Investiture Ceremonies have had an important impact on the fabric of our State. As The Queen’s representative, the governor has the privilege of conferring awards on residents of our state under our unique national system of honours – the Australian Honours and Awards.

Australia’s distinctive honours began with the creation of the Order of Australia in 1975. The wider honours system is respected throughout the world for its integrity, its absence from external influence, and its very democratic approach.

The Order of Australia, for example, is defined as ‘an Australian society of honour for according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or meritorious service’.

That definition – the spirit of which encompasses all honours and awards – makes a statement about our nation and what we stand for, admire, and respect. It reflects the values that underpin Australian society and the high regard in which we hold men and women whose achievements are exceptional. It also helps define the qualities that we consider to be exceptional – generosity, service to others, commitment and persistence, dedication to excellence. In the case of our Bravery awardees today, this specifically includes courage in times of danger or challenge.

It is a very Australian system. While Her Majesty, The Queen of Australia, is the head of the Order, I am privileged and honoured to act on her behalf in conferring these awards today.

It is therefore with the greatest pleasure that Kaye and I extend a very warm welcome to Government House this morning to the twenty-six distinguished men and women who are being honoured today. We also extend that welcome to their families, friends and colleagues, and our official guests.

Formality is a concept which makes many Australians feel uncomfortable. Yet despite our declared preference for a more relaxed, egalitarian style, it is formal ceremonies that mark the key points in our journey through life – our rites of passage. And that is one of the reasons that we conduct these investiture ceremonies. Yes, the Office could simply post your awards to you. However a dignified and symbolic ceremony underlines the importance of your actions and achievements. It gives me the opportunity, on behalf of all Queenslanders, to both congratulate and thank you.

The citations for the awards being presented today are humbling to hear.

From the men and women who have tirelessly served their professions or communities for many years, to the Police officers, emergency workers and ordinary citizens who have put their own lives at risk in carrying out their duties or in going to the aid of others – each of you is a fine role model; a leader who is helping to build stronger, more resilient and caring communities.

The nation is indebted to you all. As a demonstration of that gratitude, everyone here at Government House has been committed to ensuring that this is a day you will all enjoy.

They are also committed to ensuring that the ceremony is a respectful and sincere acknowledgement of the contribution you have made (and continue to make) to the safety, stability and cohesion of our communities and of Australian society.

In preparation for today, the horticulture staff have ensured that the gardens are perfectly groomed; the office and House staff have double-checked every last detail; and our chefs, right now, are preparing a memorable morning tea.

I do hope you are able to join me after the ceremony to enjoy our Government House hospitality. Once again, I congratulate and thank you all and look forward to speaking with you further at the reception on the lawn after the ceremony.