Boonah State School Visit

Good afternoon, Mayor of Scenic Rim Regional Council, Councillor Greg Christensen; Head of Curriculum, Ms Harmony Collins; P&C President, Mrs Kelly Skewes, teachers, staff, parents and carers, and of course, good afternoon students!

I begin by acknowledging the original custodians of the many lands within the Scenic Rim, and pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here today.

I’m here on what I understand is quite an important day in your school calendar.

Important especially for those Seniors who are today accepting the great privilege – and great responsibility – of becoming school leaders.

Congratulations to you all. And good luck!

It is indeed an honour to be chosen as a leader.

It is also a wonderful opportunity for you to make a positive difference and, perhaps more importantly, help others develop their potential as leaders, too.

As it happens, I know a little bit about the subject of leadership.

I have been lucky enough to be chosen for a number of leadership roles, including in my current job as Governor of Queensland, and before that as the State’s Chief Health Officer.

As Queensland Governor, my role is as rewarding as it is challenging.

In certain respects, my role is very clearly defined.

I am the representative of His Majesty King Charles III, who is Queensland’s Head of State.

I also have very important constitutional and legal duties, including that of ensuring Queensland enjoys stable government.

And I attend important events, such as the opening of Parliament, and attend military parades, remembrance ceremonies and special occasions of state and national significance.

I also host what we call Investiture Ceremonies at Government House, where I present Queenslanders who have gone above and beyond in service to their communities, their State and their country with Australian Honours and Awards.

But there’s another side of my role, an equally important and hugely satisfying part.

And that is to encourage others to try and do their best in whatever they dedicate their time to.

They might be saving lives by taking LifeFlight helicopters or Royal Flying Doctor Service planes to remote places and treating injured people.

Or training puppies to be Guide Dogs for the visually impaired.

Or serving with our frontline emergency services or armed forces or working in our hospitals and health centres.

Or even pursuing the Arts: perhaps dancing in the Queensland Ballet or painting one of our beautiful landscapes – much like the one you are lucky enough to live in here in the Scenic Rim.

I get to meet these amazing Queenslanders and tell them how proud we are of their achievements and thankful we are for their sacrifices, and that I support them in their endeavours.

You could consider me, perhaps, to be Queensland’s ‘Cheerleader in Chief’.

I do this knowing how important it is as a leader to recognise that we are all part of something bigger, and that we each have a role to play.

If you look around, you will also see that an important part of leadership is surrounding yourself with friends, teachers, parents, carers and mentors who support and encourage you, too.

Leadership is a wonderful thing to aspire to, if you have ideas and energy and a good work ethic.

Remember, whether you are in Prep or Year 6, you can all lead by example.

Thank you so much for welcoming me so warmly to your wonderful school today, and inviting me to be part of such a special assembly.