Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Official Opening Ceremony

Speech delivered by His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC as Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia:

Our Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk MP and Mayor, Councillor Bob Manning; First Nations Patron, Henrietta Fourmile-Marrie; ladies and gentlemen.

Kaye and I are delighted to join you tonight for the official opening of this truly inspirational, and proudly Queensland, celebration – the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. We extend a particularly warm Far North Queensland welcome to our interstate and international visitors.

I acknowledge, with respect to Elders, the Traditional Owners of these lands, and I thank the musical and dance performers for their powerful displays tonight.

Just last week Kaye and I were honoured to host a reception at Government House, Brisbane in support of NAIDOC Week.

The reception was an occasion for us to provide what we regard as vital vice-regal acknowledgement of the contributions – culturally, socially, spiritually, economically – of our Indigenous co-citizens to historical and contemporary aspects of our State.

Tonight we continue that recognition, and highlight and celebrate the manifestly beneficial contributions of our wonderfully talented Indigenous artists, curators, and creative entrepreneurs – indeed I am privileged to express these regards on behalf of all Australians, as I am currently Administrator of the Commonwealth while our Governor-General is overseas.

To our artists present here tonight: your contributions are uplifting frankly. You do so much to enhance the well-being of Queenslanders, and our understanding of our indispensable Indigenous heritage – and for that, as Governor, currently Administrator, I express profound thanks.

To CIAF’s board, management, staff, volunteers – and especially to the corporate and government supporters – I also express Kaye’s and my sincere gratitude.

The cohesiveness of our society depends very much on our ability as citizens to gain deeper insights into our heritage – something this Festival, through your support, delivers in spades.

The result of your hard work is magnificently here for us all to see: an event of immense national and international standing; a cornucopia of artist talks, performances, theatre, film, workshops – for adults and children; a bustling Art Market and Art Fair; and, above all else, a truly memorable celebration of which the people of Cairns, and indeed all Queenslanders and all Australians, can be proud.

I very much look forward to seeing shortly the Pormpuraaw Dancers and their ghost-net crocodile.

I am sure it will be spectacular, and emblematic of the culture of innovation which has ensured the Festival’s advancement since its inception in 2009, and secured its bright future. It is now my great honour to declare officially open the 2016 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.  Thank you.