Karumba Community Morning Tea

Good morning, everyone – and thank you for welcoming Kaye and me so very warmly. Warm weather was certainly guaranteed in Karumba, but it is the warmth of the people that has made us feel so very welcome wherever we go in the Gulf.

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this region. Queensland is enriched by its Indigenous cultures, and they are very much an essential part of our State’s contemporary makeup.

When I was sworn in as Governor in July twenty-fourteen, I pledged to visit all communities in the state during my term of office.

Given that there are more than six hundred cities, towns and communities in this vast State, that was possibly a very brave pledge, but it was nonetheless a serious commitment, and Kaye and I have embraced it with great enthusiasm.

Visits like this are integral to my role as Governor. They give me the opportunity to offer support and encouragement, and to promote values such as goodwill and mutual respect.

Engaging face-to-face with our fellow Queenslanders, wherever they live, is always an enormous pleasure, but it is also a privilege. We have met so many fine and inspiring people. In visits to regions devastated by cyclones, floods and drought, we have been humbled by the resilience and strength of communities; here in Karumba, where the impact of the mine closure is still so fresh and real, we see determination, commitment and pride.

Later today, Kaye and I will visit the Barramundi Discovery Centre and Volunteer Marine Rescue service, and this evening we will explore the natural wonders, and learn of the ecological value, of the Norman River. Tomorrow, we visit Karumba State School before leaving for Doomadgee.

It’s a busy itinerary, and it gives us a vital opportunity to listen and learn. We will certainly leave the Gulf on Tuesday with a greater appreciation of the region and the wonderful people who live here – thank you again for coming here this morning to meet us.