Official Visit to Healy State School

My wife, Kaye, and I are delighted to be back in North West Queensland as we relocate Government House operations from Brisbane for the fifth year — this time to the wonderful city of Mount Isa — for our week-long Regional Government House program.

I at once acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands around Mount Isa, the Kalkadoon people, and expect respectful greetings to Elders and future leaders.

We place great importance on basing ourselves here, as it gives us the opportunity to meet locals, to better understand your unique challenges, and to celebrate your achievements.

We are especially pleased to be with you, today, at Healy State School - Murrijunda.

I feel privileged to have the honor of being the first Queensland Governor to visit your school.

Indeed, regional schools hold a special place in my heart.

This is not just because I attended various regional schools growing up, and have fond memories of them, but also because of the strong community ties that they forge.

A school becomes much more than a place to receive a formal education. It becomes an integral part of the community, cherished for its efforts to encourage and inspire its students.

I was intrigued to learn that the word “Murrijunda”, added to your school name in the early 2000s, is the traditional family name of a local Elder, who gave it to the school in recognition of the tremendous way it supports Murri children.

This school’s focus on inclusion, mutual respect, and giving everybody a fair go is what makes your motto – Freedom to Learn – so powerful. And this learning does not just happen in the classrooms.

I know here at Healy State School there are lots of great initiatives—in sport, the arts, or through involvement with many and varied community events, such as the recent Isa Street Parade. You might not have won this year, but your Healystone theme looked terrific!

I understand also that your school is now famous, recently featuring in a TV segment by comedian Steph Tisdell, broadcast on The Project. Well done to those students involved.

Though you are small in numbers, your school demonstrates a tremendous balance between learning for necessity and for enjoyment. I commend your Principal, Mr David Hardy, all teachers, and the P&C, for their hard work and commitment to ensuring you continue to have Freedom to Learn. 

Thank you again for welcoming us here today. We are looking forward to spending more time in this special outback city.