Julia Creek State School

Principal Thomas, staff and students, good morning.

 I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the Julia Creek region, the Wunumara people, and pay my respect to their Elders past and present.

 I’m so happy to be visiting your lovely town and this small but mighty school, which I’ve heard so much about. 

Of course, I’m eager to learn more — we are at a school after all — but first, a little bit about me in case you were wondering! 

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

 I live and work in Brisbane, at Government House, which was built in the late 1800s and actually belongs to all Queenslanders, although Governors have lived there since 1911.

It is surrounded by the Fernberg Estate, a very special piece of bushland that is home to many native species of animals. 

In fact, I’m going to be reading a book shortly to some of your younger students about Government House, called ‘A Place for all Queenslanders’. 

Because I am the Governor for all of Queensland, I travel — quite a lot — to places like this to talk to people like you about what makes your part of our State so special. 

I already know a few things about Julia Creek because this isn’t my first visit here. I know that even though you are so far from the coast you have all the water you could ever want because you are situated over the Great Artesian Basin — which I guess means you can have as many baths as you like and not have to worry about wasting water like many people in the cities do!

 And I know lots of people — not just in Queensland but around the world — have heard about Julia Creek thanks to Crocodile Dundee, even though it’s so far away they haven’t yet been able to visit. 

But what I think makes communities like yours such wonderful places to visit and live — is the people, including the teachers and staff at this school!

 Your school is obviously very special, because it’s where kids who once would have had to go to a bigger city to complete Years 7 to 10 can now stay here instead and do their studies through Mt Isa School of Air.

 What a wonderful initiative, and I congratulate all those involved in making it happen.

I would like to conclude by thanking you for welcoming me to your school and ask if there are any questions you would like to ask me!