Reception for the Queensland 2025 Prince of Wales Award Ceremony

Head of the Reserve and Cadet Support Division, Major General Douglas Laidlaw AM CSC; Representing the Commander of the 1st Division, Colonel Darrin Glen; Commanding Officer of the No 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron, Wing Commander Tanya Evans CSM; Representing Commanding Officer HMAS Moreton, Lieutenant Commander Rodney McManus; awardees, your family members and other supporters; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

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.

Graeme and I are so pleased to welcome you to Government House this afternoon, as I perform one of the favourite parts of my role—honouring very deserving Queenslanders!

Each year, The Prince of Wales Award scheme—which received Royal decree in 1984—seeks to reward select active Reserve members and their civilian employers for their dedication and commitment to the Australian Defence Force service.

This year, I am immensely proud that out of a fiercely competitive field of applicants, and 22 successful recipients nationally, seven awardees come from Queensland—the highest number of all states.

I congratulate each of the recipients with us today, and am delighted we can share in the celebrations with your family and friends. I know that Graeme is particularly passionate about the Prince of Wales Award, given his own experiences as a reservist with the Number 2 Field Hospital and Queensland University Regiment.

Your achievements highlight the immense devotion and determination of reservists across our country, who juggle the dual demands of civilian careers and military responsibilities—in a system that also relies on the incredible support and understanding of civilian employers.

Queensland has a significant percentage of the total Reserve workforce—and our state’s communities benefit enormously from this service, as evidenced recently during the extreme weather events we have experienced, and historically across a number of natural disasters.

Yet, of course, reservists are integral to ensuring the security of our entire nation—supporting peacekeeping, humanitarian, disaster relief, and border protection operations, and being ready to step up in response to any challenges that may affect Australia’s interests, in times of peace and crisis. 

As they come from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines, this variety of knowledge, experience and expertise helps strengthen our military and drive innovation—which is so essential in the face of an uncertain and fast-changing future.

This diversity is showcased through the efforts of the reservist recipients here this afternoon, who will use their Prince of Wales Award to extend their capabilities in a range of areas including mental health, education, emergency response, search and rescue, and building.

I applaud each of you for demonstrating such a strong drive to extend your skills and intelligence, and enhance your civilian workplaces, and I commend your fidelity and pledge to serve your state and country.

We look forward to hearing about how this opportunity for development has influenced your careers. Thank you.