Reception for Australian of the Year Award Finalists, Government House

[E&OE]

I begin by acknowledging that Government House sits on the land of the Ngunnawal People here in the ACT. If you’re a Canberran, you’ll know what a beautiful part of the country this is. We thank them for looking after it for us, for generation after generation, and pay our respects to their elders past and present.

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to Government House.

Linda and I are delighted to host this reception for the 2022 Australian of the Year Award finalists and previous Australian of the Year awardees.

It’s an event we eagerly look forward to because it is so uplifting. To have such an amazing group of people gathered together in the same place at the same time is an opportunity to see the best of Australia.

I can tell you from experience that your collective infectious enthusiasm does rub off on us. You are special people.

We’re delighted to be able to welcome you to Yarralumla, to celebrate your outstanding contributions to our country and, on behalf of all Australians, to say ‘thank you’ for all that you do for our community.

My role affords Linda and me the great opportunity to meet Australians from all walks of life.

We witness many of them doing outstanding things in every field of endeavour you can imagine. People who, with grit and determination, are doing their best to overcome enormous challenges.

I’m often reminded of a remark made by former Australian of the Year Professor Michelle Simmons.

When asked why she immigrated to Australia, Professor Simmons said because Australians are not afraid to take on the hard issues.

I often think about that remark when contemplating what sort of nation we are and what sort of nation we will be. I’m very optimistic.

As I often say in my speeches, we are a good people; a strong people. We are a people who respond well to challenges, who look for solutions and who are innovative, and who have an enormous reserve of resilience to tap into when adversity hits.

Many of those ‘good people’ – outstanding Australians – are in this audience. Tonight we recognise and celebrate your collective achievements.

There’s a second element to Professor Simmons' quote: that implicit in taking on a big project is hard work. Australians are good at hard work.

We’ve seen this so often over the past year, particularly in dealing with the pandemic.

Last year when we couldn’t travel, our days were filled with video calls with Australians from across the country.

We spoke with people dealing with the pandemic and the ongoing recovery from drought, the bushfires and the mouse plague.

We thanked people involved in the response to the pandemic – those on the front line, those coordinating the response and mental health workers.

We listened to people who have chosen to make Australia home talk about why they have embraced our values and become valuable members of the community.

We joined virtual classrooms and heard from teachers, students and parents alike about the challenges of learning from home.

It gave us a remarkable insight into who we are as a country

The hundreds of conversations highlighted to Linda and me the prevalence and impact of kindness, compassion and support for others – everyday acts which go a long way in this world. They underpin our hard work and make us who we are.

To all finalists … you are an eminent group that is representative of our country’s great strength, culture and potential.

Your achievements span many fields. They include, but are not limited to, disability, justice, volunteerism, public health, cyber-safety, and family and domestic violence.

You have been nominated because you have made an outstanding contribution to society.

Your nomination was considered and debated, and you were selected. Be very proud, because we are very proud of you.

I suspect that many of you, if not all, didn’t see your award coming and were surprised to be nominated; that you did what you did, not for recognition, but because it needed to be done.

I understand that. But please remember that your country wants to celebrate your achievement and to thank you for it.

On behalf of all Australians, I want you to know that your efforts are appreciated.

Australia is proud of you.

Thank you, all, again for your outstanding contribution to our nation.

[Ends]