Luncheon for Vice-Regal Defence, Ex-Service and Sport Patronage Organisations

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I at once acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we gather, the Turrbul and Jagera people, and pay respect to their Elders past and present with encouragement to their emerging young leaders.

It is my great pleasure to host you for this luncheon today to celebrate your work and to convey to you in person my great thanks and appreciation for all that you do within our community.

As Her Majesty’s representative in Queensland, I am called upon to act as Patron for many wonderful Queensland organisations such as those you represent.

In considering what it means to be a Patron, I am reminded of the history of patronage in western society.

The historical origins of patronage are found in Roman society where the concept was thought to come from the founder of Rome, Romulus, as a way to connect social classes.

Roman patrons were obligated to support and protect their clients, while clients were expected to be dutiful and diligent to their patrons in return.

In Renaissance Florence, the de Medici family were among the most famous patrons of the arts, supporting and providing financial surety to many of the great artists of the era.

Perhaps many of our Renaissance masterpieces may not have been created, or perhaps not been quite as grand, had families such as these not supported the likes of Michelangelo, Donatello and Leonardo da Vinci.

In our modern era, patronage remains an important social function.

In looking around this room, I see leaders in our community who work across defence, ex-service and sporting organisations to support members of our wider community.  

As your patron, I take note from the Romans to consider my obligations to be your sponsor and benefactor; in other words, to assist your cause.

And the causes you represent are indeed important for our community.

Organisations such as yours that bring people together and create space for people to gather, support each other, find joy and amusement, practise their sport, explore their history, commemorate and remember their past shared experiences these are vital in our community, and worthy of support.

It is indeed a privilege of my time as Governor to be your patron, to understand the work of your organisations and to share with others the work you do.

While many of you will have met previously, please take the opportunity to introduce yourself to others in the room, learn what their organisations are doing, and consider how you might possibly collaborate to further enhance your services.

I thank you for your service to the community and hope that others may be inspired by your contribution.

Thank you.