Official Visit to Beaudesert State High School

Thank you, Miss Schmidt, for your very kind welcome.

I acknowledge the Aboriginal custodians who traditionally tended these lands; it is very important that we all understand our Indigenous heritage, it helps us understand who we are now as Queenslanders, as Australians.

Kaye and I are very excited to join you here today on our first visit to Beaudesert since I was sworn in as your Governor in July 2014.

And I am very pleased to see the Governor’s Personal Standard flying at the School this afternoon. That means the Governor is in town – and I can tell you, he is extremely proud and honoured to be here.

I didn’t grow up in Beaudesert, but I did have a very happy childhood in regional Queensland – in Longreach in western Queensland, and then Maryborough, and the Lockyer Valley and Ipswich.

I know some of you may doubt my saying this, but I really believe that, by contrast with your peers in the city, growing up in a regional centre gives you a real advantage – you are imbued with the uplifting spirit of regional Queensland; it will serve you well, I am sure, in your future endeavours.

I look forward to seeing how that wonderful community spirit sustains this School, and the wider Beaudesert region, when I tour both this afternoon.

The other piece of advice I want to give you is simple: give of your very best in all that you do.

That, for me, has been the key to whatever success I have achieved.

This applies to whether you want to achieve at school, do well in your trade or at university, or whether you wish to win ‘Beauy’s Got Talent’.

This also applies to your friends and family – make sure you thank those who support you. And to your teachers: be nice to them!

I had to, but my parents were also my teachers…

Thank you to the Principal, Mr Smith, and the staff and administration for supporting our visit here.

It is a great pleasure to visit your school, and I wish you all a most successful year.

Thank you.