Ceremony F - King's Birthday Australian Honours & Awards Investiture Ceremony

Representing the Chair of The Order of Australia Association, Queensland Branch, Mrs Marjorie Voss OAM; the 2024 Youth Governor, Mr Jordan Engel; award recipients, your family and friends; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen; boys and girls.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians 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 today.

Welcome to Government House this morning! I am so delighted you could join us to pay tribute to our incredible Australian Honours and Awards recipients—special individuals who make us all so proud.

Today we honour those people in our workplaces and communities who have gone over and above expectations—people who have been nominated by their peers, colleagues and members of the community, as worthy of receiving recognition at the highest level for their altruistic, and exceptional contributions.

Our Australian Honours and Awards System is designed to reach deeply into our society, to discover and then shine a light on extraordinary endeavours by Australian citizens.

In fact, regardless of your fields and areas of interest, your citations show that even as you are making a remarkable difference now, your influence and initiatives will continue to resonate into the future and have a lasting positive impact. As dedicated and passionate change-makers, you are committedly applying your immense expertise, experience and energy to ensuring our state is becoming a better place—fairer, healthier, more vibrant, enterprising and knowledgeable.

Some of our recipients here today have achieved in the fields of medicine, health, and rehabilitation. Others have excelled in business, the building industry and architecture. We have individuals who have furthered education, the law and judiciary and theology and youth, and those who have put their passions towards music, sport, physical education and conservation. And we have those busily occupied within our communities, to help make them thrive. Of course, in many cases, there is substantial overlap across fields.

This broad range of areas demonstrates that our Honours System is functioning as it should—and that you are each helping to strengthen unique and valuable segments within our society.

As advocates you are tirelessly championing causes you hold dear. As mentors, teachers and advisors you are ensuring that the wisdom you possess is made available to others.

By working closely with associations, organisations, societies, churches and other groups—as volunteers or within your professions—you are broadening the beneficial effect you are having. And as innovators instigating research, and taking on multiple and varied roles and responsibilities, you are driving us ever forward.

You are people who are not prepared to take a back seat—who believe in the value and significance of the work you are doing, and its power to transform lives.

And whether these activities take place within our hospitals, universities or boardrooms, or deep within the heart of local regional communities, there is no question that you have helped to enhance the capabilities, vibrancy, and compassion of our state and beyond. 

Your contributions have been significant, and you should be very proud of the achievements that led you to Government House this morning. I know that your family and friends are also incredibly supportive, and have no doubt assisted you through challenges along the way—and I thank them all for their encouragement.

Our state is enriched and enhanced by your actions, which I know will leave a lasting impression, so I hope that when you leave us this morning, you will continue to wear your pins and medals with pride, and to share the stories behind them.

This will enable others to learn more about what you have achieved, but also to understand how important it is to continually seek improvement.

On behalf of the people of Queensland, and as the representative of King Charles III in this state, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude.