Visit to Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy Hope Vale Campus

Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Jason Woibo; Councillor Mr Keithean Bowen and Chief Executive, Mr Steve Linnane; Principal, Ms Tamara Gibson, staff and students. Good morning.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we gather today, the Guugu Yimithirr Warra people, and their continuing connection to land, culture and community. I pay my respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.

Graeme and I are very grateful to be visiting the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy – Hope Vale Campus today, and to be welcomed so warmly by you all.

One of the great privileges of being Governor is travelling around Queensland and meeting students at schools – big schools, sometimes with more than 2,000 students, and smaller schools, like your one.

Every school is special no matter its size, and I can already tell that your academy campus here at Hope Vale is a very special place indeed.

I understand your school’s motto is ‘Get ready, work hard, be good’ - what great advice! Coming to school ready to learn, working hard and being your best self will set you up to achieve your goals in life, whatever those goals might be.

I’m sure sometimes it seems hard – and with just a few days left of Term 2, maybe you’re feeling tired and looking forward to a break – but I encourage you to keep persevering and do your best every day.

I am also told that your campus has a track record of success in producing our future educators - with the highest number of Indigenous registered teachers of any community in the Cape. What a wonderful achievement, and one your school community should be very proud of.

Does anyone here think they want to be a teacher when they grow up?
…  It’s such an important job isn’t it! I think we should give all of your teachers and the staff here a big round of applause for all of their hard work and dedication!

Thank you, teachers and staff, for your devotion to your students. And thank you boys and girls, for inviting me along to speak with you at your assembly this morning.