Queensland Club Governor’s Dinner

Mr President . . . 

It is a wonderful tribute to the Office of Governor, ladies and gentlemen, that you choose to join Kaye and me tonight, and thank you Mr President for again conveying this convivial occasion.

This Club has stood for very many years as a bastion – not only of conviviality, and that has its just place, but also of stability, indeed inspiration.

In Kaye’s and my intensive, regular travels around our wonderful State, we all the time meet people who exude only optimism. And that bespeaks the wonders of the Queensland psyche.

Because we know graziers are having to surrender to foreclosures; we know western communities are surviving – really – on basic governmental grant support.

But that is what makes Queensland distinctive. ‘Our’ plague is drought, persistent drought. But our western people accept that, and our governments accept that.

It has become, simply, a matter of getting on with business – and so Kaye and I discern only resilient optimism, and governments rightly acknowledge the importance of remote distressed communities in defining who we are.

Why do I say these solemn things on an occasion such as tonight?

It is because I believe this Club symbolises tireless commitment: the critical importance of the support each of us offers, must offer, to our fellow citizens; the recognition of optimal personal performance and achievement; and in Queensland particularly, embracing the whole of our State, town and country – especially so as the Ekka advances, with the Club’s signature celebration in that space.

Of course, I am very proud to be a long-standing member of this Club, which I believe recognises the Queensland psyche, and promotes it.

Thank you again, very much, from Kaye and me, for your being here tonight.