Cloncurry Shire Council Community Reception

Cloncurry Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Greg Campbell, CEO Philip Keirle and Councillors, members of the local community, welcome. 

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the Cloncurry region, the Mitakoodi, Kalkadoon, Yulluna, Pitta Pitta, Bularnu, Waluwarra and Wangkayujur people and recognise their connection to lands, waters and community. I pay my respects to their Elders both past and present and extend that respect to all First Nations people here today. 

I am very pleased to be here in Cloncurry, a town that holds such significance for our State, historically, culturally, and of course economically, in terms of its agricultural and mining output. 

And I am especially excited to be meeting with you all in a place that, to many — including me — is synonymous with that most quintessentially Australian of organisations, our very own Royal Flying Doctor Service. 

As Patron of this lifesaving medical service in Queensland, I am honoured to be meeting with you here at John Flynn Place. 

Late last month, I met with the RFDS (Queensland Section) Chair, Ms Georgina Somerset AM, at Government House in Brisbane.

 Prior to this, I was fortunate enough to visit the RFDS River Clinic in Lockhart River in the State’s far north and meet with medical staff based at the Primary Health Care Centre there. 

To say I go out of my way to visit RFDS personnel around Queensland is somewhat true with one very important distinction. 

Visiting any part of this State is never out of my way — rather, I see it as essential to my role as Governor to visit Queenslanders where they live. How else can I hope to support and represent them on matters of importance to their communities. 

I have undertaken to visit regional Queensland as often as possible during my term as Governor, to hear first-hand from you about the challenges you face, and to celebrate your many successes. 

Cloncurry is in many ways typical of the regional towns I have visited so far, in that it plays a central role in the story of Queensland and contributes to our broader economic, social and cultural identity. 

However, its spirit and sense of identity are unique, formed over decades through the shared experiences of its inhabitants.

 And it is what makes communities like yours such wonderful places to visit.

Thank you, again, for welcoming me here today, and I look forward to chatting with as many of you as possible.