Governor’s Visit

Governor’s Visit

In March, as part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, we were delighted to have the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the

Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, and Mrs Kaye de Jersey, visit St Aidan’s.

They commenced their visit with our Prep students and Mrs Daley in the library, then were pleased by the findings of 2E students who were learning about the life cycle of a butterfly, followed by 5K students working with Ms Child in the Robotics and Coding Room on their space activities. The last part of the visit included our weekly assembly, where the Governor gave a speech to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Excerpt from the speech given by His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC on 11 March 2020:

As was so clearly demonstrated during our tour of the school earlier, St Aidan’s is already at the vanguard of gender equality. Kaye and I greatly enjoyed the demonstration of coding and robotics that the Year Five students so capably and enthusiastically put on for us. STEM subjects are the province of female students just as much as of male students. You are very lucky, students, that your career paths, once you leave this fine School, will not be constrained in ways they once may have been; you will, quite rightly, have access to the full gamut of professions and occupations.

For that we can thank the many young women like yourselves who have advocated for workplaces that welcome male and female participation equally.

We still have some way to go, but it is encouraging to hope that one day there will be no need for a theme of gender equality at International Women’s Day because that theme had already become a reality.

Each of you has the power to encourage and support your classmates and, by working together, realise the potential of all. This unity of support, I know, is a hallmark of this School.

It is reflected in your laudable vision, nurturing aspiration, and draws inspiration from the inclusive mission of the Society of the Sacred Advent.

Kaye and I were very impressed by Senior School Link precinct, particularly its focus on collaboration. You have an enviable facility in which to learn and play.

The fact that The Link has adapted and re-purposed the oldest buildings on the grounds means that the traditions of the past are blended with the vitality of the future. I foresee much ‘gamechanging’ work originating in this space.

Kaye and I had the great pleasure, by the way, of welcoming to Government House last night, your

School’s Junior Librarian, Mrs Daley.

Mrs Daley was the inspiration, I understand, for a character in ‘Lucy’s Book’, which Kaye has just read to the Preppies. You are very lucky to have such accomplished teachers and dedicated staff, led by Principal Riordan, at your School!