Queanbeyan; Braidwood; Araluen, New South Wales

On Monday 13 January 2020, Their Excellencies, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Mrs Linda Hurley travelled to Queanbeyan, New South Wales (NSW).

On arrival, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley were met by the Honourable John Barilaro MP, Deputy Premier of NSW and Member (NP) for Monaro; Councillor Tim Overall, Mayor, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council; and Mr Paul Jones, Superintendent, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS).

Afterwards, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley received a briefing on bushfire response and recovery activities in south-east New South Wales and met with RFS staff and volunteers at the Queanbeyan Fire Control Centre.

Later, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley travelled with Mr Barilaro and Mayor Overall to Braidwood, NSW.

There, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley, as guests of Mr Dennis McGrath and Mrs Carol McGrath, met with BlazeAid volunteers at the Braidwood Showground.

Afterwards, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley visited local businesses in Braidwood impacted by the bushfires.

Later, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley met with volunteers and staff at the Rural Fire Service Braidwood Station.

Then, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley travelled with Mayor Overall to Araluen, NSW.

There, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley met with local residents and members of the Araluen Valley Volunteer Fire Brigade at the Araluen Fire Shed.

Afterwards, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley, as guests of Mr Ken Harrison, Owner, visited the Harrison and Son Stone Fruit Farm, Araluen to inspect damage caused by recent bushfires.

In the evening, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley returned to Admiralty House, Sydney.