Investiture Ceremony 15 May 2024, 10am

Representing the Leader of the Opposition, Member for Burleigh, Mr Michael Hart MP; representing the Chair of The Order of Australia Association Queensland Branch, Dr Dennis Young AM; 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 all First Nations people here today.

Graeme and I are so pleased to welcome you all to this morning’s special Investiture Ceremony. I am always so delighted to meet the incredibly deserving individuals who do so much for others, through hard work, determination and passion. Truly, it is a tremendous highlight for all of us at Government House to host these important events.

This morning brings together a group of remarkable individuals whose achievements touch the lives of so many in positive and enduringly beneficial ways.

Each of you has been nominated by someone in your sphere, who has considered your efforts and contribution to be so outstanding that they should be honoured by the highest level of public recognition in our country.

This should make you all extremely proud, because the Australian Awards and Honours are not given out without considerable deliberation and assessment—and are designed to celebrate those who have made a significant and lasting difference for the greater good—and far exceeding the ordinary.

Our awardees may be active in varying fields and arenas, yet your citations also reveal the similarities that have resulted in you being here today—as you each strive to enrich the experiences of others, whether this is within a local community, or across our State and nation.

This morning, we honour those who are being recognised for their incredible service to music, print journalism, and mathematics.

We honour those who are being applauded for their work in the fields of education, sport, health, child and social welfare, and the disability sector…and those who have devoted themselves to business, the church, the maritime industry, to our veterans, to our museums and to preservation of our history and our gardens.

And we honour those who have worked hard in their communities to strengthen relationships, and empower the important associations and organisations that support many, and make our special places so much more vibrant, and inclusive.

Your citations demonstrate your willingness to take on many roles. In fact, often through advancing one area of focus, many of you have also had a valuable impact on other areas, which amplifies your efforts much further, and more deeply into our society.

You freely give your time, energy, expertise, talents and enthusiasm to ensure you make our world a better place—but in doing so, you are also committed to sharing your wisdom and experiences with others, not just through formal teaching or instruction, but through mentorship, as ambassadors, advisors, advocates, innovators and authors.

You are tireless, determined and dedicated people, yet I know you have faced challenges and obstacles along the way. It takes courage to confront such difficulties, and at these times you will have relied on the support and love of your friends and families to see you through.

I would therefore also like to acknowledge the immense encouragement of these special people in your lives, who have helped you achieve your goals, and fulfil your dreams.

It is through extraordinary efforts, such as yours, that our State and nation become places that welcome diversity, celebrate our history, protect our vulnerable, and enrich and improve our cultural and life experiences.

We would be so much poorer without people like you amongst us.

This morning, as the representative of King Charles III in this State, and on behalf of the people of Queensland, I say thank you, for the deep sense of commitment that serves to reinforce the ideals we aspire to as a nation, and I encourage you to wear your pins and medals, out in the community, with well-earned pride.

I look forward to finding out more about your work, as we enjoy the famous Government House hospitality.