Hear and Say Board Christmas Function and Launch of the Silver Anniversary History Book ‘Sounds of Hope’

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to join you all today.

May I firstly publicly congratulate Dr Dornan on being named Queensland’s Australian Senior of the Year. It is a highly fitting approbation of your remarkable contributions to our nation and State, Dr Dornan, although for my part I have never regarded you in terms of years – your dynamism defies decades! Kaye and I were delighted to host at Fernberg during the week your fellow Australian of the Year finalist, Mr Johnathan Thurston, and his wife Samantha. Our State is fortunate to have such a diversely remarkable group of community leaders recognised through these Awards, all of whom share a love of this wonderful State and its people.

Each year I attend hundreds of events – this year many military commemorations associated with the centenary of World War One battles, and there are of course imminent constitutional events associated with the State election.

However it is the community events which are invariably for us the most rewarding.

This was reinforced when we hosted in July an afternoon reception to celebrate Hear and Say’s silver anniversary, and of course it is reinforced for us today.

In the intervening months, we were very honoured to gift to Hear and Say a Turkish Pine.

The tree is a direct descendant of the original ‘Lone Pine’ at Gallipoli, the pine cones of which were brought back to Australia by soldiers returning from World War One, and eventually propagated into seedlings at Yarralumla Nursey in Canberra.

In 1979, a seedling was planted on the Government House estate in Brisbane, and another planted here at this very centre this year.

These trees are wonderful examples of living history – and provide us with direct links to our past.

So too does this magnificent publication I have the honour of shortly launching, ‘Sounds of Hope’.

The books provides appropriate and tangible recognition to the people, places and stories so integral to Hear and Say’s success. 

It is a signal of the widely held esteem which the Centre continues to be held that an author of such distinction as Madonna King would participate in the project.

I warmly thank and congratulate all involved in putting together this highly worthwhile publication. 

I commend Hear and Say’s community partners, board directors, staff and volunteers, for their ongoing contributions to this beneficial organisation.

You all excellently epitomise the enduring spirit of goodwill and optimism which we celebrate at this Festive time, and which characterises Hear and Say as exceptional.

It is my great pleasure, in this significant 25^th anniversary year, to now officially launch ‘Sounds of Hope: The Hear and Say Story’.