Visit to Woorabinda State School and Community Luncheon

Thank you for the Welcome to Country today. Thank you, too, students, for wearing your uniforms with such pride today. It is wonderful to see.

 

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands, the Wadja and Gungaloo people, and extend my respectful greetings to Elders, past, present and emerging.

 

I am very honoured to be here in Woorabinda today, on what is my first regional visit since being sworn-in as Governor on 1 November.

 

I am particularly delighted I am able to visit the Woorabinda State School.

 

Now, I may not have the same star power as Johnathan Thurston, who visited your School earlier this month.

 

However, I have come here today, in my new role as Governor, to tell you all that I think Woorabinda is a very special community, and a very important part of Queensland.

 

In fact, I was so excited that my first regional visit would include a stop in Woorabinda, that your town features in a special children’s book I launched last week.

 

Very shortly, my husband Graeme and I are going to read this book to you. It is about two squirrel gliders and a kookaburra who live at Government House in Brisbane.

 

I won’t spoil all the surprises now.

 

However, the kookaburra, named Goodwin, sees a group of children from Woorabinda, playing in the grounds of Government House!

 

The students are welcomed inside, because Government House is a place for all Queenslanders.

I will leave plenty of copies of the book here in Woorabinda today so you can show your family and friends when you go home.

 

I know your School has a strong focus on reading, and that the best reader every week receives a special ‘Deadly Reader’ award.

 

This is a wonderful idea.

 

There is no better way to improve literacy than by reading and learning to love books.

 

And reading doesn’t have to be a chore – I truly believe reading should be fun!

 

Thank you everyone for welcoming us so warmly here in Woorabinda.

 

We look forward to meeting many of you throughout the course of today.

 

I hope you enjoy the children’s book, ‘A Place for All Queenslanders’, Graeme and I will now read to you.