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27th Governor of Queensland Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM

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  4. Official Opening of Cunnamulla P–12 State School Industrial Technology Resource Centre
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Official Opening of Cunnamulla P–12 State School Industrial Technology Resource Centre

Mayor, Councillor Godfrey; our Principal, Mrs Campbell; staff, students and members of the wonderfully inspiring Cunnamulla State School family. Thank you for the warm welcome you have extended to Kaye and me on this, our very first visit to Cunnamulla since my being sworn in as Governor of Queensland, almost two years ago – and a special thank you to the students for their Welcome to Country dance. I too acknowledge the first Australians who lived on these fertile river-lands before European settlement, and their descendants.

This may be the first visit Kaye and I have made to Cunnamulla, but it is certainly not our first visit to rural Queensland; I take every possible opportunity to visit regional centres and meet the wonderful Queenslanders who sustain those communities.

It is always a form of homecoming for me because my father was a State school principal and, as a child, our family lived in cities such as Maryborough and Longreach – to which Kaye and returned last week aboard a special train carriage, built in 1903 for Governors and visiting Royals!

I also spent many happy childhood years in small communities like Patrick Estate in the Lockyer Valley and Coolabunia near Kingaroy.

Just last month, Kaye and I were in Coolabunia for their school’s one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations. Their Principal, Mr Johnston, has been at the school for thirty years, but you can all be very proud that Mrs Campbell here at Cunnamulla P-12 State School has surpassed that record, serving for thirty-two years. Today’s official opening of the Industrial Technology Resource Centre is a fitting tribute to your dedicated service to the school and the community, Mrs Campbell. Congratulations!

I know that the fire which destroyed the manual arts building here three years ago was a body blow to the school and to the community, but the phoenix that has risen from those ashes is this excellent, state-of-the-art facility which will support the development of practical skills for both students and the broader community well into the future.

I congratulate everyone involved in bringing this project to fruition.

There is one final aspect I wish to mention today. You may have noticed the Governor’s Standard flying over the School. That means the Governor is in town, and I can tell you, with Kaye, he is extremely proud and honoured to be here!

I now have great pleasure in unveiling this plaque to commemorate the event and declaring the Industrial Technology Resource Centre officially open.