Official Visit to Gin Gin State School

Mayor, Cr Dempsey; Principal, Mr Fritz; staff, students and supporters of Gin Gin State School.

I too acknowledge the traditional owners of these lands, and extend respectful greetings to Elders and emerging leaders. 

I am delighted to be in Gin Gin today and to see all of these bright, eager young faces here at assembly. Thank you for your Welcome to Country and that fine rendition of our National Anthem.   

Gin Gin State School has a long and proud history. When it was established in 1890, the Governor of Queensland was Sir Henry Norman, only the seventh person to be Governor of our State.

I am the twenty-sixth Governor. I know you are all good at maths, so together we can work out that the school was founded nineteen Governors ago, which adds up to … a long time.  

As it happens, I had an excellent education at State primary schools which, like this school, were in regional Queensland. That was because both my parents were schoolteachers who taught at places like Maryborough and Longreach when I was young.

That’s also why I can say that students at this School are lucky to be guided and encouraged by such dedicated teachers and active, interested parents and other care-givers.

And how important it is for you, the students, to make the most of this opportunity, to work hard every day, “to be the best that you can be”, as your inspiring school motto says.  

Gin Gin State School is providing you with a great start to your lives, to your future.

Sometimes it takes a while to find the ‘right’ future. In a little while I will read a book about this to the Year Sixes. 

The story is about a dog called Gavel who, after a few tries, found his future at Government House, where I live. He’s now a big social media star!

But the story is really about how anyone can find their ‘right’ future when they try their best.

I look forward to presenting Student of the Week awards to students who are great role models for ‘doing your best.’ 

I thank the whole of the School community for their warm welcome today – Principal, teachers, support staff, the P&C, parents and other care-givers – and for their dedication to the future of these young people.

Earlier today I planted a tree at the Gin Gin Community Hub as part of Council’s One Million Tree project. It is my sincere hope that Gin Gin State School’s students and the tree grow and flourish together long into the future. Thank you.