Opening of the 2022 Royal Queensland Show, Brisbane

[E&OE]

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet, and pay my respects their elders, past and present, emerging leaders and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders gathered here today.

  • The Honourable Mark Furner MP, Queensland Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, and Minister for Rural Communities, representing the Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Premier of Queensland
  • The Honourable Justice David Thomas, President, Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland, and Mrs Jane Thomas
  • Members of the RNA
  • Major General Scott Winter AM, Commander 1st Division
  • His Grace the Most Reverend Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane
  • Brigadier Mick Say, Commander 7th Brigade, and Members of the Australian Defence Force and Queensland Mounted Police Unit
  • Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

Good afternoon, everyone.

What an absolute delight for Linda and me to be in Brisbane at the 2022 Ekka.

I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone when I say it is great to have the Ekka back!

I congratulate the RNA  for developing a program of activities that both recognise and support rural families and communities.

I also congratulate the Australian Defence Force and Queensland Police Force for supporting the opening ceremony. The Guard of Honour, the Army Band, the Roulettes and the Mounted Horse Escort are a special part of an Ekka opening ceremony. I am relieved that this ceremony doesn't clash with the Bluey and Bingo Show!

As I look out and see the many people in attendance today, I can sense the excitement that the Ekka creates.

I particularly want to thank the people behind the scenes who have made the Ekka happen this year. Excitement comes on the back of hard work by many people.

We’ve missed the Ekka these last two years. 

At its heart, the Ekka is a celebration – of our regions, of our community and of what the future can hold.

So, thank you to the RNA for pulling out all the stops to make the 2022 Ekka celebration possible.

Queenslanders have had to cope with much in recent years, as has our nation. Floods in particular, but also drought, Tropical cyclones, fire and of course the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our economy has had to withstand all sorts of pressures. Australians have been through some pretty tough times and experienced many dark days. I recall our recent visit to the Lockyer Valley and the stories of social and economic hardship out there.

But as Linda and I have seen during our visits to disaster-affected communities in Queensland and in northern New South Wales, there is a strength in these communities that is both amazing and inspiring.

Australians are a good, tough people. The people in the affected communities might be down and on their knees, but they’re not out. They’re not beaten. Far from it.

The 2022 Ekka, the first since 2019, symbolises the strength that exists in our communities and of our ability to stare adversity down and bounce back.

Back in 2019, about six months after the devastating January and February floods in the Gulf Country, Linda and I visited a cattle property north of Julia Creek. In discussion with a group of cattle station owners and managers I made the comment that they had a lot of hard work ahead of them. Their response was something that has stayed with me: ‘We are not afraid of hard work; just give us a good season.’

The 2022 Ekka is part of that good season. That is what this year’s Ekka in particular is all about. The Ekka is colloquially known as ‘the people’s show’ for good reason.

There’s something here for everyone. I’m informed the Ekka will play host to 10,000 animals, 21,000 competition entries, and the best in entertainment, food and wine.

As a keen apiarist, I plan to look in on the native bee classes which are new to the show this year.

And, as proud grandparents of three beautiful grandchildren, Linda and I will be sure to pick up some showbags. It is good to see that a percentage of the proceeds of the sale of the bags will go to the C-W-A, one of the great Australian organisations.

The theme of EkkaNITES this year, ‘It’s time to celebrate’, really hits the mark. The theme serves to remind us of the importance of celebrating our many and varied successes in recent years, no matter how big or small.

There is a message in that for all Australians.

If you come across Linda and me during the course of our visit today, please come up and say hello. We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible and experiencing much of what the show has to offer.

Congratulations to the RNA staff and volunteers, and the exhibitors, sponsors, competitors and agricultural community who, along with you – the patrons – make the Ekka such an outstanding family-friendly agricultural event.

It is now my great pleasure to declare the 2022 Royal Queensland Show open.

[Ends]