Reception for the Presentation of the 2017 Queen’s Guide and Adult Awards – Girl Guides Queensland

State Commissioner, Mrs Velia Nicholls; State Executive Officer, Mr Paul Nicholls; other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, and our proud Guides, Leaders and their wonderfully supportive friends and families.  As Patron of Girl Guides Queensland, I am very pleased, with Paul, to welcome you all to Fernberg tonight.

It is now close to three years since Paul was sworn in as Governor.

To our great fortune, this is fourth reception for the presentation of the Queen’s Guide and Adult Awards that we have had the pleasure of hosting.

I say to “our great fortune”, because Paul and I regard these ceremonies as highly significant, for us, for the recipients, and also significant in the life of this estate.

It was in this very house, nearly 100 years ago, in 1919, that Lady Elsie Goold-Adams, the wife of the then Governor, convened a meeting to establish the Guiding movement in Queensland.

And with every passing ceremony, the stories of service, achievement and perseverance which epitomise our Youth and Adult Awardees are woven in to Fernberg’s history – and that makes you all very special indeed!

Today I have the great pleasure of presenting 29 Youth and Adult Awards, including an impressive 14 Queen’s Guides, the peak achievement for young Guides.

I wholeheartedly congratulate you on your tremendous accomplishments, and I hope feel very proud of what you have achieved.

No matter what path you take in this life, I know that you will fondly recall your Guiding experiences.

Cherish these memories, and put time and effort into sustaining the friendships and relationships you have formed.

Continue to serve with the same spirit which has earned you these Awards.

This will provide a wonderful continuity to your lives, in the same way that the Guiding movement has provided a wonderful continuity to the development of our State.

Congratulations once again to all Awardees, I look forward to meeting many of you during tonight’s reception. Thank you.

Reception for the Presentation of the 2017 Queen’s Guide and Adult Awards – Girl Guides Queensland