Emerald Community Morning Tea for the Departure of the Spirit of the Outback and Vice-Regal and Heritage Carriages

Thank you, Mr Chairman.

I at once acknowledge, with respect to their Elders, the Traditional Custodians of the lands around Emerald, and in doing so, I note the pivotal role Indigenous people played in the development of rail throughout our State and nation.

Emerald, too, was vitally important to the roll-out of rail in Queensland, serving as a base for the building of the western line in the late 1800s. 

So it is fitting that Kaye and I begin this very special journey today from here in Emerald.

The vice-regal and heritage carriages which have been connected to the Spirit of the Outback provide tangible links to this rich rail history – and it is vitally important history, the development of rail having also unlocked untold prosperity, and really opened up parts of our vast West during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The roll out of rail also enabled Governors to more readily do what they ought to: visit regional and rural communities.

Queensland’s seventh Governor Sir Henry Norman was the first to travel on this central rail line when he boarded a special train in Rockhampton and proceeded to the terminus in Longreach in October 1892, stopping very briefly here in Emerald, and at many communities along the way including Bogantungan, Barcaldine and Anakie.

The Vice-Regal Carriage wasn’t yet built – that occurred in 1903 – so I suspect travel for Sir Henry wasn’t quite as comfortable as it will be for us today!

Kaye and I are simply delighted that we can share such a wonderful and enriching part of our history with you all, as we continue, we hope you will agree, the proud succession of Governors visiting and lending support to the wonderful, genuine communities of our vast Central West, especially during this period of quite shocking, prolonged drought.

Kaye and I thank the Mayor and Council, and all of you, the inspirational, uplifting members of the Emerald community, for your very warm welcome and turnout here this morning.  

And on a final note, you may have noticed a Standard proudly flying above the Station today. It’s not the Governor’s personal Standard, but the Commonwealth Standard. As of 3.50pm yesterday, I am Administrator of Australia, our Governor-General being overseas. Therefore I have the great privilege of supporting you on behalf all fellow Australians, and Kaye and I do this with considerable pride!