Reception for the Order of St John for the Investiture and Presentation of Awards

Distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen. It is Kaye’s and my great pleasure to once again welcome back to Government House members of the Order of St John in Queensland.       

This is the fourth Investiture Ceremony for the Order we have hosted since I became Governor three years ago, and shortly thereafter a Knight and Deputy Prior of the Venerable Order of St John in Jerusalem.

Hosting these annual ceremonies provides Kaye and me with an opportunity to confirm both the historical and contemporary significance of the Order.

The formal elements of today’s Investiture – from the recitation of the Exhortation to the ceremonial robes, emblazoned with the Order’s four-armed cross denoting the Christian virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude – link us with the Order’s grounding heritage, benevolently forged more than a millennia ago during the time of the Crusades.  

That the 10 postulants being admitted into the Order today have meritoriously served with St John Ambulance, reminds us of the immense benefit the Venerable Order, deriving from Queen Victoria’s Charter, has brought to our State – conspicuously through the Ambulance – since 1889.

I had the enormous privilege of a private call at Kensington Palace on 15 March this year with the Duke of Gloucester, Grand Prior of the Order of St John.

His Royal Highness was deeply knowledgeable and keenly appreciative of the work of the Order in our State and nation.

He was particularly enlivened by the Order in Australia having surpassed the magnificent milestone in 2016 of training 1,000,000 primary school students in first aid at no cost to the student, school or community.

This is a wonderfully uplifting achievement, consistent with your broad and inclusive mission. 

I congratulate today’s postulants on their highly significant admittance into this most noble Order.

I further congratulate Peter Leggat (pron. Legg-at) for his promotion within the Order, and the soon to be announced recipients of the Queensland Cadet of the Year and the Queensland Youth Leadership Awards – this is a proud day for you, and your families, enjoy it to the full.

I wish all of you here today the best in your future endeavours, as you go about continuing to give tangible meaning the Order’s motto: ‘For the Faith and in the Service of Humanity’.

Thank you.