Speech celebrating the 50th anniversary of Australia's Honours system

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Welcome to Government House.

So many of you come from not just the ACT, but from a long way away, and you are some of the people who received the very highest awards in the Honours system. 

Every single one of you is here because you matter. 

This is a place of peace and belonging, a place of celebration of milestones and anniversaries, and recognition of magnificent achievements and uplifting acts of generosity, selflessness and compassion. 

It cannot be more fitting that we have the first official celebration of the 50th anniversary of Australia's Honours system, taking place right here on Ngunnawal land at Government House.

I also can't think of a more appropriate time to celebrate the love that inspires all of you for your generous and selfless work than Valentine’s Day.

For me, it is a great joy that many of you are here. 

While your post nominals encompass a little over half of the letters of our alphabet, your achievements actually represent every field of human endeavour over many, many decades. 

On the eve of the Australia Day weekend, we hosted the nominees for the 2025, Australian of the Year awards, and many, many past Australians of the Year. 

Many of them were also members of the Order of Australia. 

It was a magical evening. 

We were out on the lakeside lawn in the dappled golden light of early evening. 

It was just spectacular. 

That night, the lawns were alive with the very special energy of people who know, like you do, the power of care, kindness, respect and generosity, but particularly the spirit of contribution and care for others. 

We sought a collective noun for the Australians of the Year over 65 years.

We called them a gift of Australians of the Year. 

Now I think that is a collective noun that applies equally to the five decades of recipients of all of our honours and awards. 

All of you are a gift to the nation, a gift to us. 

And I am uplifted every time I come to one of these events, just as I am uplifted at investiture ceremonies.

Some of you received your medals and honours from me here in this room. 

Others of you have received them from governors across the country. 

We know that they are exceptionally special moments, particularly when we get to see your families and those that have supported you and are so very, very proud of that moment when you are invested into the Order or presented with your medal. 

These are events that we very much look forward to in all the Government Houses around the country. 

Now you probably know this statistic, but I still think it is extraordinary: in its first half century, more than 1 million Australians have received membership of the Order of Australia or been recognised for courage, merit and service in our national awards, like the Australian bravery decorations, the National Emergency medal and Defence Force awards.

In the words of my predecessor, General David Hurley, presenting medals and insignia to Australian Honours recipients is, quite simply, one of the greatest joys of our roles. 

I felt that at my first investiture ceremony, and I am sure all the state governors and the administrator of the Northern Territory would concur with both General Hurley’s views. 

On a cold November day last year, I travelled to Crookwell to award Mr Richard Kennedy the medal of the Order of Australia. 

Now in his 90s, he is living in a nursing home alongside his wife and members of his community that he served for nearly 80 years

And he is being cared for by the members of that same community.

In the very loving presence of his family and friends, Mr. Kennedy received an honour he did not seek nor anticipate or consider when he gave his life of service to his community.

We celebrated him for his contribution to community, which was born of love and care and kindness and respect, never a desire for admiration.

As your Governor General and as a passionate Australian, presenting Mr Kennedy with his medal was a rare privilege and a moment of extraordinary beauty and profound meaning.

As a loyal and generous citizen deserving of our praise and his country's acknowledgement, Mr Kennedy, just like all of you, represents the very best of our Honours system and the very best of our country. 

I know that many of those representing the Governors of the states and the Administrator of the Northern Territory know that it is important to go out to those that might not be able to make it to investiture ceremonies. 

I know there is a history of that right around the country, and I will continue to do that – I do not like presenting posthumous awards for people that we can get to first.

What are we doing in that moment of investiture? 

We are showing care. 

And that is why I put care at the centre of my commitment to all of you in taking office about seven months ago.

For me, that is care for each other; care for those who do all the caring for others; care for our extraordinary continent and its environmental beauty; care, importantly for our civics and our institutions; and, right now as ever, care in the way in which we discuss and debate the issues of our time without judgment anger or resorting to violence or hatred.

I think we are all capable of that. 

I think it could be one of the muscles in Australia we need to exercise a bit more, so that we can disagree well with respect and sort out our issues without the rancour that we often see, and we certainly see in other parts of the world. 

So, our Honours system is unique in the beauty of its insignia. 

It is given shape by an annual calendar of announcements and ceremonies.

And it thrives because of our national commitment to ensure that all works of service to our country on a local, national and international scale are recognised and celebrated. 

But it is defined by its people. 

We all know these people. 

It is all of you in this room, and the people we live and work with every single day. 

Collectively, you and they represent our national story. 

Individually, they and you are unfailingly inspirational. 

I know you don't mean to be, but you are.

To learn your stories is to be reminded that care and kindness and respect and contribution to communities across this country is actually what matters most to all Australians in every sphere of life. 

In many cases, as I know it is with many of you, you are unsung heroes.

Just like Richard Kennedy, that is what defines you all. 

You don't trumpet your achievements. 

You just do it. 

You do it because you care about so many others. 

Your stories are about caring for others across the country, and I think they epitomise the core Australian values and inspire and encourage contribution by others.

Now, you know, and our team here at Government House knows, the work of the Australian Honours system is never done, because all of this work of taking care of each other is never done.

It will endure and thrive throughout the generations. 

That will be the success of our optimistic, modern and diverse Australia. 

At Government House, we have spent the last few months exploring the many ways we can celebrate this half century birthday and make sure that we can do that over the course of the year. 

Tonight is the kick-off event, and the most important to start off this year of celebration on the day of the anniversary of the Honours system. 

Tonight, many of Canberra’s major landmarks, inside and outside the National Triangle, will be lit up between sunset and 11pm in gold, red and blue, the ribbon colours of the original three medals in the Australian Honours system. 

I am looking forward to seeing the Carillion, Old Parliament House, the Captain Cook Fountain, the Treasury Building and the National Library of Australia, Questacon and the National Film and Sound archive illuminated in celebration of this wonderful anniversary. 

But for now, on its exact birthday, it is very special for all of us here at Government House to be with you, who represent everything about this system.

I encourage everybody who wears the pin or the medal to wear it with pride.

It allows those unfamiliar with the system to ask questions and to understand your stories, and it encourages the nomination of more people to the various orders and medals in our wonderful system. 

So happy birthday to the Honours system, and congratulations and thank you to all of you.

As your Governor General, this has been one of the most important events we'll host here this year, because you represent the very best of this nation.

Thank you very much.