Morning Tea to Mark the Commencement of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Minister Farmer; Cr Owen, representing the Lord Mayor; committee members; ladies and gentlemen.

Kaye and I are delighted to welcome volunteers, supporters, and administrators of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic to Government House this morning to mark the commencement of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Pinktober sees our State embellished by hues of pink as we join the worldwide effort to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Each of you is here because breast cancer has touched your life in some way, and you are committed to finding a way to conquering this devastating disease. I applaud you for being such inspiring ambassadors.

Over the past three decades we have seen tremendous advances in the detection and treatment of breast cancer. Indeed Australia now has one of the best breast cancer survival rates in the world.

This is largely the result of diverse, cutting-edge scientific research, much of which would be impossible without the wonderful efforts of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Over the past 25 years, this stellar organisation has dispersed more than $170 million to over 534 different research projects in Australia, with all funds raised through the generosity of the Australian public.

Many of those funded projects have been undertaken in Queensland, including at the Diamantina Institute at UQ – how wonderful to see that Institute perpetuate the mission of Lady Diamantina, wife of Queensland’s first Governor.

Despite these research efforts, this complex and insidious disease necessitates a multi-pronged offensive. We need to continue to support our brilliant scientific minds in their quest to find answers.

I know how valuable Foundation funding is in ensuring ground-breaking projects are realised. I see the hope that is generated by the diligent determination of researchers.

However, to achieve the goal of zero deaths by 2030, there is still considerable work to be done. 

That is why annual events like the Mother’s Day Classic and Pinktober are so crucial.

These high-profile initiatives raise awareness and generate much needed funds.

Indeed, I was impressed to learn that over its 22-year history, the Classic and its loyal troop of volunteers has raised over $35 million for breast cancer research. A staggering 1.36 million people have participated in the fun run.

As prominent buildings around Queensland light up pink during October, and we don our pink ribbons and host pink breakfasts, I renew my own personal commitment to support the quest to beat cancer.

And today, our head chef, Mr Paul Newsham, has made some special almond and lemon tea cakes, with… pink icing! The lemons, incidentally, come from a prolifically bearing lemon tree in the grounds of one of the Presbyteries of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church just a little way up the hill on Fernberg Road: the Parish Priest Father Gerry turns a blind eye to our occasional raids.   

I whole-heartedly commend all of you here, for your unswerving enthusiasm and focus. I further congratulate the Foundation for its first 25 remarkable years.

I wish you all a successful Pinktober and encourage all Queenslanders to get involved. Where there is pink, there is hope.