Fernberg Quarterly A QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
ISSUE 2, JULY 2015
IN THIS ISSUE 12 month anniversary
Enhancing access to Fernberg
Shows highlight State’s rural identity The Governor’s ceremonial role
Anniversary address livestreamed His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC was sworn in as Queensland’s 26th Governor on Wednesday, 29 July 2014. Tonight, His Excellency will deliver an address reflecting on these first 12 months, including placing on the record the Governor’s involvement which led to the transition of government following this year’s State election.
View a timeline of the first 12 months on pages 4-7
During the first year, the Governor has fulfilled a number of constitutional, ceremonial and community duties, including visiting regional Queensland 39 times, presiding over 43 Executive Council meetings, delivering 177 speeches, presenting 265 worthy Queenslanders with honours and awards at 13 investiture ceremonies, having 745 Tweets sent from the official @QldGovernor Twitter account, and inviting more than 16,600 people guests visit Fernberg including for Open Days, receptions and ceremonies.
FERNBERG QUARTERLY • ISSUE 2, JULY 2015
The covered walkway and porte-cochere are constructed of Queensland timbers and porphyry.
Enhancing access to Fernberg TWO ACCESSIBLE LIFTS, A NEW PORTE-COCHERE AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS INSTALLED Fernberg has witnessed Brisbane’s development from an isolated outpost of the British Empire to the thriving, twenty-first century city it is today, and has played a key role in the history of both the city and the State. Not only has it served as Government House for more than a century, but it remains the only substantial residence and villa estate in Brisbane dating from the 1860s and one of the finest examples of a Victorian Italianate villa in Brisbane. This unique history earned Fernberg a permanent place on the State Heritage Register when the Queensland Heritage Act was introduced in 1992. Paradoxically, in the same year as the house was entered on the Heritage Register, the disability legislation was introduced, requiring public buildings to have equitable access.
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This posed a challenge for the Queensland Government, as owners of Fernberg, because any changes to the house needed to comply with heritage legislation. Limited provisions for wheel-chair access were introduced as temporary measures, and complex and extensive consultation about a permanent solution began in earnest in 2007. Numerous options were considered before the final solution was adopted and funding secured in 2014. The resultant Equitable Access Project was a major undertaking which saw two lifts, a new porte-cochere and other improvements installed in 2015. The completion of these important changes - coinciding with Fernberg’s 150th anniversary year - have ensured that Fernberg will remain a Government House for all Queenslanders and a place where visitors feel warmly welcomed, whatever their level of physical ability. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
From the Official Secretary Welcome to the second expanded stakeholder edition of Fernberg Quarterly, timed to coincide with the 12 month anniversary of the swearing-in of His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC as Queensland’s 26th Governor on 29 July 2014. It has been a momentous 12 months, reflected in the array of constitutional, civic and community engagements undertaken. Notably, the Governor has visited regional Queensland on 39 occasions, delivered 177 speeches, sworn-in a new government, opened the 55th Parliament, presided over Anzac Day commemorations in the 100th year since the Gallipoli landings, and attended hundreds of events supporting those aspects of our community which bind and uplift. Tonight the Governor will deliver an anniversary address, during which His Excellency will place on the record the vice-regal involvement which led to the transition of government following this year’s State election. I encourage you to “livestream” this significant event – in other words, watch it live on the Government House website, www.govhouse.qld.gov.au, from 6pm AEST tonight. Air Commodore Mark Gower OAM Official Secretary
Download a free copy of ‘A House for All Queenslanders ’ detailing the history of Fernberg - the historic home of Queensland Governo rs since 1910 and this year 150 years old. One of two accessible lifts installed in 2015.
FERNBERG @ QLD GOVERNOR QUARTERLY INSIGHTS • ISSUE 12, 2ND QUARTER 2015
issuu.com/qldgovernor
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The First 12 Months
August 26
July 29 Sworn-in as Queensland’s 26th Governor at Parliament House, Brisbane
AUGUST
Invites entire student population of Ilfracombe, Windorah & Muttaburra into Governor’s Study
SEPTEMBER
August 1 July 29
Departs to Townsville for first regional viceregal visit
Becomes Queensland’s first Governor with a social media presence
August 15 July 31
Grants first Royal Assent to Bills of Parliament
September 5 Hosts first investiture ceremony at which awards are presented to worthy Queenslanders
Presides over first Executive Council meeting
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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GOVERNOR’S PROGRAM, INCLUDING CONSTITUTIONAL, CEREMONIAL AND COMMUNITY ELEMENTS, FROM 29 JULY 2014 TO 29 JULY 2015
October 10
November 12-14
December 12-14
Audience with Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace
Welcomes dignitaries attending the G20 Leaders’ Summit
Opens Fernberg for Christmas lights display, 4000 attend
OCTOBER
October 17 Takes the Oath in order to become Administrator of the Commonwealth during the absence of the Governor-General
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
November 5
November 21
Welcomes to Government House His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex
Hosts first regional investiture ceremony
December 9 October 22
October 22
November 13
Becomes Administrator of the Commonwealth for the first time
Hosts a reception in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal
Sends first ‘PdeJ’ Tweet, signalling a personal Tweet
@ QLD GOVERNOR INSIGHTS • ISSUE 12, 2ND QUARTER 2015
Presents Ninth Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment with new Colours
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR PAGE 5
January – July 2015 February 14 Tweets that Ms Palaszczuk has been invited to form government
February 10 February 24
Tweets that Mr Newman has resigned and a new Premier will be appointed following the poll declaration
JANUARY
January 6 Parliament dissolved and Writ issued causing general election to be held on 31 January
Undertakes first of many visits to cycloneand flood-affected regions following TC Marcia
FEBRUARY
MARCH
February 12 Three grazier families from drought-affected regions stay at Government House and attend a drought reception
January 26 Presides over first Australia Day flagraising ceremony to ever be held in Townsville
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March 25 February 14-16 Swears in members of the Palaszczuk Ministry and Executive Council
Delivers the Governor’s Address at the opening of the 55th Queensland Parliament
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
June 6
April 25 Delivers address at the dawn service at Anzac Square, 100 years on from landings at Gallipoli
MAY
4000 attend Queensland Day Open Day at Fernberg
JUNE
April 5-7
July 29
Visits Winton and heads west to Boulia
commemorates first anniversary with a livestreamed address from Government House
April 28 Visits Cherbourg, Queensland’s third largest Aboriginal community
JULY
May 24-27 Visits Cape York and the islands of the Torres Strait
FERNBERG @ QLD GOVERNOR QUARTERLY INSIGHTS • ISSUE 12, 2ND QUARTER 2015
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Shows highlight rural identity The annual agricultural show has been central to the community life of Queensland cities and towns since the very first show was held in Clermont in 1868, and vital to promoting Queensland’s agricultural sector. The Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies now coordinates 128 shows around the State, ranging from the annual events in tiny but vital centres such as Alpha (population: 364 ), to Brisbane’s celebrated ‘Ekka’.
The Governor inspects the many displays at the 142nd Ipswich Annual Show
In the year since His Excellency took office, the Governor and Mrs Kaye de Jersey (and sometimes the venerable 1972 Government House Rolls Royce) have been welcome guests at no fewer than nine shows and regional festivals — Alpha, Childers, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Laidley, Maleny, Mt Gravatt, Springsure and the Ekka. But wherever the show, there are always the agricultural and horticultural displays, ring events, the showmen, the pavilions, the grand parade, the sample bags, the hardworking show committee and volunteers, and the keen competition for a coveted blue ribbon, whether it be for a prize alpaca or the best dark fruit cake. His Excellency was given personal experience of the excellent standard of baking in regional shows when Mrs Myrtle Patterson presented him with one of her champion cakes at the Springsure show in May.
andard The Governor’s St al show flies over a region rnor’s ve signalling the Go attendance
Back in Brisbane, Mrs Patterson’s cake was served during an official call by the Clerk of the Queensland Parliament. The event was photographed for our Facebook page, producing dozens of favourable comments and even some helpful feedback from one reader, a Michael McDonald, whose cake-cutting etiquette advice to our staff was: “I think the cake should be on a trolley before you take a knife to it!”
“Shows provide an annual barometer of the region... and speak to the resilient determination of you wonderful country Queenslanders; it speaks to the esteem of the regional communities which I believe really do in large measure go to define the ethos of our diverse State; and of course it speaks to the dedicated work of the show societies.” A quote from the Governor’s speech delivered at the official opening of the 150th anniversary Springsure Pastoral and Agricultural Show
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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
The Governor visits the Kranji Cemetery in Singapore.
Kranji link to Governor’s contemporary ceremonial role As the representative in Queensland of Her Majesty The Queen, the Governor has an important ceremonial role in the community.
In July this year, the Governor unveiled a plaque commemorating the 70th anniversary of Operation RIMAU, a commando raid in 1944 aimed at sinking shipping in Japanese-held Military ceremonies are an important Singapore. element of this role, honouring the service and sacrifice of Australia’s Twenty-three Australian and British armed forces. commandoes set out. None of them survived. In 2014, the Governor presented Colours to the 9th Battalion, Royal The group carried out as much of the Queensland Regiment, in a practice mission as was humanly possible. They that can trace its roots right back to the demonstrated extraordinary courage Roman legions. in attempting to evade capture and return to Australia. Among the most moving events are commemorations of military But those that did not die during the operations. escape were captured and executed. One of them was Archibald ”Pat” Campbell, brother of former Queensland Governor Sir Walter Campbell. Sir Walter knew his brother had been lost in the war, but did not discover until 1990 that Pat had Smaller commemorations can also be died in Operation RIMAU. In his deeply moving. role as Governor, and acting for all
Queenslanders, Governor de Jersey honoured Pat Campbell and other Operation RIMAU commandos when visiting their memorial headstones in Kranji Cemetery in Singapore in March 2015.
The Governor considers the speech he delivered at the Dawn Service on the Centenary of ANZAC Day this year to be his most important public presentation to date.
@ QLD GOVERNOR INSIGHTS • ISSUE 12, 2ND QUARTER 2015 FERNBERG QUARTERLY
The memorial headstone for Archibald ‘Pat’ Campbell in Kranji Cemetery PAGE 9
@QldGovernor Tweets May 25 The Governor hiked the last 20mins to ‘the tip’ #CapeYork to take the first ever Vice-regal #selfie #thisisqueensland 13
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June 6 Happy #QldDay everyone and thank you to the nearly 4000 people who came to today’s #Fernberg150 #GovHouseOpenDay! 5
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June 14 Today the Governor attended @AustralianArmy 7th Brigade Family Day #Enoggera 2
July 8 Congratulations @QLDMaroons on behalf of fellow #Qlders for your emphatic victory you should all be proud. PdeJ 28
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Contact: 07 3858 5700 Email: govhouse@govhouse.qld.gov.au www.govhouse.qld.gov.au twitter.com/QldGovernor www.facebook.com/QldGovernor PAGE 10
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Photography by Best Photos