Official Visit to Cloncurry State School

Hello everyone, and thank you for the warm welcome.

I at once acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands around Cloncurry, and extend respectful greetings to Elders and emerging leaders.

Cloncurry is a twice-winner of the Keep Queensland Beautiful Friendliest Town Award and there is no question why!

It is marvellous to be back. My last official visit to Cloncurry was in May last year, when Kaye and I took part in the 90^th birthday celebrations of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Cloncurry may be small in size but it’s big in character... character which draws proudly on this region’s State-defining Indigenous heritage. Cloncurry is where the Royal Flying Doctor Service took off. It is where the first-ever Qantas flight landed. And during the Second World War, Cloncurry was the site of a major United States airbase.

Past achievements aside, I do not have to look far to see that Cloncurry has a fabulous future ahead. And that future is sitting right in front of me. Boys and girls, it is a pleasure to meet you. I could not possibly think of a better place to be than Cloncurry State School. Wherever your dreams may take you, your success starts here… success inspired by those qualities set forth in your School song, ‘Courtesy, Truth and Knowledge’. ‘When your school days are over’, students, your lives really will be richer if you live according to these principles.

As your teachers may have told you, as the Governor of Queensland, I am the representative of our Head of State, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. I am visiting Cloncurry today as part of Regional Government House. I really enjoy my role because every day is different. And I get to meet wonderful young people like you.

The only problem is that my office is based at Government House in Brisbane – nearly 1,700 kilometres away from Cloncurry.

I cannot expect you all to travel to Brisbane to see what Government House is like – although several students did visit us! Mr Bailey, your phys ed teacher, brought a group of Years 7 and 8 students to Government House on 8th September, 2015. I happily took a photo with them on the Investiture Lawn. Cloncurry State School students are always welcome at Fernberg!

Since that visit, we have acquired a new companion – a German shepherd named Gavel, whose official duties as Vice-Regal Dog include welcoming guests – and eating the occasional sausage roll! 

One of your other teachers, Miss McDonald, recently met Gavel. She visited Government House as a finalist in the Queensland Country Life Miss Showgirls Awards. She spoke very highly of the students from Cloncurry State School – and she was right, you are all very well behaved!

Over the past few days Kaye and I have been working remotely from Mount Isa as part of Regional Government House, visiting towns and communities like Cloncurry – this morning I was in Dajarra, and visited a school with a much smaller population than yours – just 18! 

On Regional Government House, Kaye and I replicate what would otherwise happen in Brisbane and take the opportunity to immerse ourselves in communities like yours.

And I have to say, it has been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for your extremely warm welcome. Kaye and I wish you all the best with your studies, as you continue to bring great credit to your school and community in vibrantly uplifting Cloncurry. Thank you.