World MS Day Morning Tea

MS Queensland CEO, Mr David Curd and Board Members; and staff, Ambassadors, partners and supporters of the MS Queensland family.

Kaye and I are delighted to welcome you to Government House this morning to celebrate World MS Day.

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

In the seven years since my term as Governor began, Kaye and I have had the pleasure of hosting a reception here every year to mark this important day in the MS calendar – even last year, as pandemic restrictions tightened, we were able to host a belated COVID-safe morning tea.

We did this because vice-regal patronage is taken very seriously here at Government House.

It is only granted after careful consideration, and it is evidence of the reputation of MS Queensland and its work that successive Governors have accepted the invitation to act as Patron.

Kaye and I have been truly honoured to be a small part of the MS Queensland success story, providing our support, encouragement and advocacy to the vital work done to support those living with this disease in communities throughout the State.

Events such as today’s morning tea give us the opportunity to personally thank everyone concerned for their contribution to creating a fairer, more cohesive society, particularly over the past year when it has been very challenging for people affected by MS to maintain contact with others.

Fittingly, the current three-year campaign theme for World MS Day is ‘Connections’, with its goal of bringing the global community together to raise awareness, celebrate progress and share hope with those affected by MS.

With its tagline ‘I Connect, We Connect’, the campaign aims to challenge the barriers created through social isolation and loneliness.

World MS Day this year will also see a further expansion of the annual effort to light prominent Queensland buildings, structures and outdoor spaces in red.

In 2021, a magnificent total 28 such structures will be involved, including eight bridges in cities around the State and the Gold Coast’s iconic Q1 Skypoint Observation Deck.

Imaginative efforts such as this, as well as the energy, dedication and determination of members and staff through impressively conceived projects such as the transformational Project Dignity 120, have been the mark of MS Queensland from the outset… and can I say how immensely honoured I am, my time as Patron coincided with this period of progressive advancement for MS Queensland.

I wish you well for another successful World MS Day and for the years ahead in the continuing fight to create better lives for Queenslanders living with MS. Thank you.