Logan Loves Volunteers Thank You Breakfast and Volunteer Awards

Thank you, Mayor Smith. I too join in acknowledging here this morning our Premier and Ministers; other distinguished guests; and the many wonderful volunteers in whose honour we gather.

I further thank Aunty Robyn for her Welcome to Country this morning, and pay my respects to Elders past and present.       

Ceremonies, such as the Logan Loves Volunteers Awards, are highly important occasions for recipients and their proud families and friends.

They are also highly significant occasions for our community.

They provide us with an opportunity to publicly acknowledge and thank people whose actions reflect noble values – of service above self, of sheer dedication, and of genuine regard for one another.

These are values which advance and sustain our community.

They are also values which take on graphic importance during times of distress.

So much was evident to me when I visited Logan Village SES in the week following the inundation of so much of Logan and the surrounding communities wrought by ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

I saw genuine empathy in the many volunteers and emergency response personnel and the impromptu “mud army”, working for the re-instatement of their communities, in doing so putting their livelihoods on hold.

Others still, had quite literally put their lives on the line.

People like Mr Jim Ferguson, who recounted to me that day the miraculous story which has earned him and his peers the bravery awards I will shortly present. And I convey to our four recipients the utmost gratitude of the Queensland people.

There are representatives here today from many agencies involved in disaster planning, and response and recovery.

I thank and acknowledge them all.

I commend also all volunteer awardees here today, from many facets of dynamic Logan life.

You all speak of a vibrant and cohesively-aligned community, the type of community of which we should be outwardly proud.

Mayor Smith, the Council is to be congratulated for maintaining these annual awards, in some form, for nearly three decades, and for its judicious decision to extend this year’s awards to include those who assisted with the flood clean-up.

As Governor, speaking for all Queenslanders, I thank you all for the magnificent contributions you make to the fabric of our State, reflective as you are of the uplifting spirit of this remarkable and proud City. Thank you.