Regional Government House: Official visit to Woree State High School

Mayor Manning; Principal, Mr Bruce Houghton; Woree State High School students, staff and supporters.

It is an honour for Kaye and me to join you this morning as we continue the Regional Government House program for the fourth time, the second time based in Cairns.

It is also a wonderful honour to see the Governor’s Standard flying proudly over your school grounds.

I at once acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we gather, and pay respect to their Elders past and present – with encouragement to their young emerging leaders.

One of the highlights of Regional Government House is undoubtedly meeting our State’s next generation of leaders, and I am proud to visit Woree for the first time today.

Year 12 students, I thank you for your impressive rendition of our National Anthem, and also for your Welcome to Country.

I look forward to touring some of your school facilities later this morning, including the Clontarf Academy.

Since becoming Governor in 2014 I have had the pleasure of visiting more than 55 Queensland schools, and today is an educational experience for all of us.

Like you, I enjoyed part of my childhood learning in regional Queensland. It is a unique and highly engaging form of education that provides the sort of hands-on experiences – along with friendships – that will stay with you for life.

I am pleased to hear that at Woree State High School these hands-on experiences include everything from construction to cooking – what a diverse, challenging and all-encompassing curriculum!

At the very heart of your school community are quality and equality – two values which remain as relevant today as they did in your school’s foundation year of 1985.

A quality education and a belief – and indeed a willingness to embrace – equality will set you on a highly rewarding path.

I am sure this is something your teachers regularly remind you of, and I encourage you to continue to display these values at school, and in the wider Woree community.

Once again, thank you for making us feel so welcome this morning.

With Term 3 coming to a close in just a few weeks, we wish you enjoyable holidays and a successful finish to the school year, both in and out of the classroom.