Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

On Wednesday, 17 February 2021, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), accompanied by Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, received Letters of Credence accrediting His Excellency Mr Shingo Yamagami as the Ambassador of Japan. The Ambassador was accompanied by his spouse, Mrs Kaoru Yamagami; Mr Shutaro Omura, Minister; Deputy Head of Mission; Colonel Shigehiro Noshita, Defence and Army Attaché; and Ms Tomoko Nagai, First Secretary.

Afterwards, the Governor-General, accompanied by Mrs Linda Hurley, received Letters of Credence accrediting His Excellency Mr Mario Farrugia Borg as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Malta. The High Commissioner was accompanied by Ms Denise Demicoli, Deputy High Commissioner.

Later, the Governor-General received a phone call from Lieutenant Colonel Julian Hohnen, Deputy Director, Australian Army Research Centre.

Afterwards, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley hosted a lunch for newly accredited Heads of Mission. Guests included: Ms Denise Demicoli, Deputy High Commissioner, High Commission of Malta; His Excellency Mr Mario Farrugia Borg, High Commissioner for Malta; Ms Julie Le Saos, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Japan; Mr Ian McConville, Chief of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Mr Shutaro Omura, Minister, Embassy of Japan; His Excellency Mr Miguel Palomino De La Gala, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps; Ambassador of the Republic of Peru, and Mrs Teresita Daroca Capell; Ms Harinder Sidhu, Deputy Secretary, Service Delivery Group, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and representing the Foreign Minister; Mr Paul Singer MVO, Official Secretary to the Governor-General; His Excellency Mr Jean-Pierre Thebault, Ambassador of France; and His Excellency Mr Shingo Yamagami, Ambassador of Japan and Mrs Kaoru Yamagami.

Later, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley, accompanied by Government House staff, participated in a walk around the Government House grounds in recognition of the Gift of Life DonateLife Walk 2021.