Canberra, ACT; Melbourne, VIC

On Thursday 26 January 2017, at Commonwealth Park, Canberra, the Governor-General, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), as Host Officer, attended the National Flag Raising and Citizenship Ceremony. During the Ceremony, 28 conferees from 11 different countries were formally welcomed as new Australian citizens.

In the afternoon, at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove, as guests of the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Children’s Hospital, Professor Christine Kilpatrick, visited the children victims of the Bourke Street tragedy.

Afterwards, at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, the Governor-General, as Presiding Officer, and Lady Cosgrove attended an Australia Day Citizenship ceremony. During the Ceremony, the Governor-General read the Preamble and Citizenship Pledge to the 101 conferees from 36 different countries. The conferees were amongst more than 16,000 people who became Australian Citizens on Australia Day.

Later, at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, the Governor-General, as Chancellor of the Order of Australia, and Lady Cosgrove invested Mr Rod Laver AC MBE with the insignia of the Companion of the Order of Australia. Mr Laver received Australia’s highest honour for eminent service to tennis as a player, representative and mentor, at the national and international level, and as a role model for young sportsmen and women.

In the evening, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove, as guests of the President of Tennis Australia, Mr Steve Healy, attended the 2017 Australian Open Men’s Semi Final.