Official Visit to Holy Spirit College Mackay

Thank you, Principal Lyons. I too acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands around Mackay, and express respect to Elders, past and present.

Members of the Holy Spirit College family, it is wonderful to be back again in Mackay, under much better circumstances than my last visit!

In March this year I came to Mackay to lend my support in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie. I am delighted to see that the slow work of recovery is well underway.

You will have many stories about your personal experiences of Cyclone Debbie.

One of the best things about being Governor of Queensland is that I get to hear the stories of people from all over the State.

Like you, I spent part of my childhood and schooling in regional towns, and I have a profound attachment to regional Queensland. 

One of the highlights of my year is holding Regional Government House, where the operations of Government House are relocated for a week from Brisbane to a regional area – although, sadly, we could not bring our official vice-regal dog, Gavel the German Shepherd, with us!

In 2015, the first ever Regional Government House was held in Cairns. It went to Longreach last year, and now I have the great pleasure, with Kaye, of holding Regional Government House in the beautiful Mackay region.

I am very much enjoying my time here, and I thank you for welcoming me to your school. I very much look forward to presenting Calvin Franklin with his Pierre de Coubertin Award – how wonderful that his proud parents are in the audience today.

I congratulate those of you involved in your recent production of The Wiz. By all accounts it was a marvellous performance, and I'm sure that everyone who took part in it had a wonderful time.

I encourage all of you to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, because it is through the opportunities we seize that our lives are enriched.

Those of you who were present at your recent Japanese Iron Chef Cook-Off would have seen how much enjoyment was had by those who took part.

Kaye and I had the great privilege last year of dining with the real Japanese Iron Chef – Chef Sakai – who is an official TAFE Queensland Culinary Ambassador. He would I am sure be very pleased to know that students in Mackay were using the Iron Chef format to learn more about Japanese culture and language. 

Likewise, all of you in the Dance Troupe, Photography Club, Band, Choir, ArtOfficials, Drum Corps, Digital DJs – as well as those involved in your extensive sports program, and many other extra-curricular activities on offer at Holy Spirit –you are all to be commended on your contributions to school life, and encouraged to continue to be active participants throughout your time here.

I have very fond memories of the extra-curricular activities I did at school. I was fortunate enough to continue some of them at university, and they have been the basis of lifelong friendships. So my advice to you is to put your hand up for every opportunity that comes your way – you just never know where it might lead you!

Thank you for your warm welcome, Kaye and I wish you all a most successful and invigorating academic year.