Reception in Support of Play Matters 50th Birthday Celebrations

Member for Mount Ommaney, Ms Jessica Pugh MP; Ipswich City Council Mayor, Councillor Teresa Harding; Play Matters Australia Chair, Mrs Jane McVeigh and Directors of the Board; staff and supporters; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.  

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners 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 this evening.  

When we think of how to care for our children, beyond their basic needs of course, we undoubtedly all have a notion of what is an ideal upbringing.  

This might entail access to an early childhood education, or to opportunities for a child to freely express themselves, in words or pictures, or some other way. 

We might consider that they will benefit from time to discover new things about the world around them, be that through play or more formal instruction, and that we as adults should guide them in-so-far as we can. 

These are all very admirable ideals.  

They are also human rights, as deemed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

Play is not only important, it is a fundamental human right. 

As adults, we are beholden to ensuring our children have access to play-based learning, which brings into perspective the value of the work your organisation does in our community. 

Today, we are celebrating a remarkable 50 years of Play Matters Australia. That’s 50 years of advocating for children’s rights to play-based learning, and more support for those who help make it happen, be that in playgroups or private homes. 

Play Matters, with its ethos of recognising parents and carers as a child’s first teacher and focussing on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life as critical to their development, has made an immeasurable difference in countless children’s lives. 

Fifty years of supporting children and families to build relationships, skills, and confidence through play, not only in Queensland but in every state and territory in Australia. 

On behalf of all Queenslanders, may I take this opportunity to acknowledge all that you have achieved and thank you for your significant contribution to our State and nation. 

As Governor, I regularly interact with child-focussed organisations – largely through my role as Patron – including for Children’s Rights Queensland, Early Childhood Australia, the Children’s Book Council of Queensland, the Children’s Hospital Foundation, and others. 

I am proud and honoured to count Play Matters among this treasured group of my patronage organisations, and I look forward to supporting you, in whatever way I can, to continue the valuable work you do. 

On that note, it now gives me great pleasure to present a Certificate of Vice-Regal Patronage to Play Matters Australia Chair, Mrs Jane McVeigh.