Brisbane Girls Grammar School 148th Speech Day and Distribution of Prizes

Premier of Queensland and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP; The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO; Chair of the Board of Trustees, Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Julie McKay and fellow Trustees; Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler and staff; members of the Brisbane Girls Grammar School community, good afternoon.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here this afternoon.

I also acknowledge and thank Ms Euler and the Board of Trustees for the invitation to be with you, on this most significant day in the school calendar, to celebrate this year’s academic and co-curricular student achievements, recognise the excellence and professionalism of the teachers and other staff, and thank the partners, donors and broader school community for their ongoing commitment and generosity.

It has been another successful and exciting year for the School with plans announced for the introduction of Years 5 and 6 in just two years’ time, as well as the construction of a purpose-designed Junior School Building to accommodate them. This project is yet another example of the bold, future-focused leadership that characterises this school and continues to ensure its rank as a top-performing Queensland school.

I take this opportunity to congratulate your Principal, Ms Euler, on receiving the Australian Council of Education Leaders’ Miller-Grassie Award for Outstanding Educational Leadership in 2023. It’s an award that recognises her exceptional contribution to the School and to education in this State and beyond during her 10-year tenure as Principal.

Finally, I recognise and congratulate not only the prize-winners but every student in the graduating cohort. You have completed your secondary education despite the stress and disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, and you and your families can be immensely proud of that achievement. I wish you every success in your future endeavours.

As Governor, part of my responsibility is to inspire and encourage all Queenslanders, and one of the most important ways of achieving that is through Vice-Regal patronage. Together, my husband Graeme and I support more than 150 community organisations and events as individual or joint patrons. But, in addition, I support several of our State’s major educational institutions, including this school, not as patron but as Official Visitor.

It’s a position that dates back to the 19th century in Britain when visitations to schools and universities were instituted by Parliament. I can assure Ms Euler and the Board of Trustees that I have none of the powers of those Victorian visitors, but the role does enable me to provide Vice-Regal advocacy and encouragement and it therefore gives me great pleasure to present your School with this official certificate of my support as your Official Visitor.