Reception in support of the Boys’ Brigade and the Girls’ Brigade Queensland Queen’s Badges and Awards 2024

Boys’ Brigade Queensland President, Mr Jason Knight; and Executive Chairman, Mr Anthony Campling; Girls’ Brigade Queensland State Commissioner, Mrs Cindy-Lee Robertson; and Committee Chair, Miss Lauren James; Queen’s Badge and Award recipients; your family and friends; distinguished guests.

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 this evening.

Graeme and I are delighted to welcome you to Government House today on this special occasion where ten very deserving recipients will be honoured with either the Queen’s Badge or the Queen’s Award.

Your commitment to attaining the qualifications that lead to these awards is outstanding. You have obviously dedicated yourselves to lives of personal and Christian growth, and it is an honour to be acknowledging your achievements at today’s reception.

This evening, you will receive the highest award you can earn in the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades.

To the young men receiving the Queen’s Badge, all aspects of your life have no doubt been positively impacted by your involvement in the Boys’ Brigade. You have focussed on strengthening the body, expanding the mind, understanding the spirit, growing your creativity and giving back to community. You have been challenged to give of your best in every way and to build on your leadership abilities, underpinned by your faith and Christian love.

With these as your foundational supports, your work serving the community has been characterised by self-respect and a generosity of spirit towards others. Your journey to this point has no doubt been a long but satisfying one.

To the young women here today, the completion of the Queen’s Award signifies an earnest endeavour to serve others in your communities and a commitment to your Christian faith also. Through the completion of the Award, you have gained skills that will enable you to live a full and satisfying life.

The Girls’ Brigade has helped you develop and channel the attributes of generosity, compassion, self-control and responsibility so that the lives of those with whom you engage are enriched.

To those who have been alongside you on this journey of self-discovery and good works, we say thank you. These are the family members and the friends, the mentors and the leaders who have given unconditional support and shown a belief in your abilities to be of assistance to your fellow human.

Clearly, their belief was not misplaced, and as Patron of both the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade in Queensland, neither was mine.

Congratulations to you all.