Morning Tea in Support of Ipswich Community Leaders

Members of the Legislative Assembly, Ms Jennifer Howard, Mr Jim Madden and Mr Lance McCallum; Mayor, Cr Harding and Ipswich City Councillors; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen; girls and boys.

Thank you as always for the very warm welcome to Ipswich.

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

As Governor of Queensland, it both my duty and my signal honour to visit communities, towns, cities and regions all over our wonderful State. 

I am very pleased to report, that since 2014, I have visited Ipswich 25 times, not including my ‘virtual visit’ to the Mayoral chambers by FaceTime in May this year, when an ‘in person’ visit was not possible.  

It has been a great privilege, across many decades now as Judge, Chief Justice and Governor, to chart the growth and progress of this City.

There is personal pride. I am of Ipswich ‘stock’ – my mother was born here. As a schoolboy I attended Ipswich Central Boys School, at which my father was for a period head teacher.

That School is now Ipswich Central State School, and I was very humbled to return there this morning to address a special assembly.

The students, I can report, were most bright and alert. They had many curious questions about the role of Governor.

Their attentiveness and enthusiasm – and indeed that of all Ipswich students I have been so honoured to meet on my many visits – bode so well for the future of this special City.

I am thrilled so many students could join us today, particularly those Year 12 students currently sitting examinations. I wish you and your classmates every success. You should be very proud of your achievements in this disrupted year.   

The central purpose of my visit is to express support for the people of Ipswich, to celebrate achievement and to acknowledge initiatives which advance social cohesion.

This afternoon, I receive a briefing from Council, meet senior representatives of TAE Aerospace and Rheinmetall, tour the Art Gallery and inspect the impressively conceived CBD project.

These initiatives project a confident City, with its own proud and distinct identity.

They remind us, as if we ever needed it, that Ipswich is replete with dedicated community leaders, including all of you before me today, whose contributions to commerce, education, community services and sport give this City and region such vibrant uplift.

It is my great honour, as Governor, to acknowledge and thank you all.

I very much look forward to speaking to you throughout the course of the morning. Thank you.