Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

On Wednesday 30 August 2023, Their Excellencies General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), as Patron, and Mrs Linda Hurley, as guests of Mr Glenn Keys AO, Co-Founder, attended the official opening of Project Independence Phillip.

Afterwards, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley hosted a lunch for Heads of Mission of Middle Eastern nations. Guests included His Excellency Mr Milad Raad, Ambassador of Lebanon, and his spouse Mrs Roula Azar; His Excellency Dr Basim Hattab Altumma, Ambassador of Iraq; His Excellency Mr Saad Al-Shareef, Ambassador, and Ms Fatima Al-Khulaifi, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the State of Qatar; His Excellency Mr Abdulla Alsubousi, Ambassador, and Miss Amna Alsuwaidi, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the the United Arab Emirates; His Excellency Mr Bassam M M Y Alqabandi, Ambassador, and Mr Thamer Al-Khurainej, Counsellor, Embassy of the State of Kuwait; Mr Yazan Bazadough, Chargé d'Affaires of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and his spouse Ms Dina Abaza; representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade including Mr Dylan Lattacher, Director of Iran, Iraq and Syria Section; and Mr Ridwaan Jadwat, First Assistant Secretary, Middle East and Africa Division; and representatives from the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General including Mr Paul Singer MVO, Official Secretary, and Mr Jeff Barnes, Deputy Official Secretary.

Later, The Governor-General met with students from Normanhurst Public School, Normanhurst, New South Wales.

In the afternoon, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley, as guests of Mr Matt Anderson PSM, Director, attended a Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.

In the evening, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley, as guests of Mr Richard Rolfe AM, attended the 90th birthday celebration for Mr Keith Payne VC AM.