Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

On Wednesday 6 September 2023, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), accompanied by Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, received Letters of Credence accrediting Her Excellency Mrs Ardi Stoios-Braken as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Ambassador was accompanied by her spouse Mr Wayne Stoios, and representatives of the Embassy of the Netherlands including Ms Annemieke Van Soelen, Deputy Head of Mission; Lt Col Peter Burgerhout, Defence Attaché; and Mr Stefan Beckers, Police Attaché.

Then, the Governor-General, accompanied by Mrs Hurley, received Letters of Credence accrediting His Excellency Mr Claudio Frederico De Matos Arruda as the Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The Ambassador was accompanied by his spouse Mrs Lenice De Almeida Nóbrega Arruda, and representatives of the Embassy of Brazil, including Ms Maria Cristina Ferraz Alves, Minister; Ms Mariana Siqueira Marton, Second Secretary; and Ms Sarah De Andrade Ribeiro Venites, Second Secretary.

Later, the Governor-General, accompanied by Mrs Hurley, received Letters of Credence accrediting His Excellency Mr Maciej Marcin Chmieliński as the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland. The Ambassador was accompanied by his spouse Ms Małgorzata Jagas-Chmielińska, and representatives of the Embassy of Poland including Ms Agata Utnicka, Deputy Head of Mission; Mr Łukasz Graban; First Secretary; and Mrs Katarzyna Głogowska, Third Secretary.

Afterwards, the Governor-General, accompanied by Mrs Hurley, received Letters of Credence accrediting Her Excellency Ms Jana Tyrer as the Ambassador of the Czech Republic. The Ambassador was accompanied by her spouse Mr Timothy David Tyrer; and representatives of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, including Mr Ondrej Hovadek, Deputy Head of Mission; and Mr Martin Plocek, Attaché.

In the afternoon, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley hosted a lunch for newly accredited Heads of Mission. Guests included: Her Excellency Mrs Kersti Eesmaa, Acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Estonia; Her Excellency Mrs Ardi Stoios-Braken, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and her spouse Mr Wayne Stoios; His Excellency Mr Claudio Frederico De Matos Arruda, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil and his spouse Mrs Lenice De Almeida Nóbrega Arruda; His Excellency Mr Maciej Marcin Chmieliński, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland and his spouse Ms Małgorzata Jagas-Chmielińska; Her Excellency Ms Jana Tyrer, Ambassador of the Czech Republic and her spouse Mr Timothy David Tyrer; Mr Craig Maclachlan, representing the Foreign Minister, Deputy Secretary, International Security, Legal and Consular Group; and Mr Ian McConville, Chief of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Mr Paul Singer MVO, Official Secretary to the Governor-General; and Mr Jeff Barnes, Deputy Official Secretary to the Governor-General.

Afterwards, the Governor-General, as Patron, and Mrs Hurley hosted an afternoon tea for the National Apprentice Employment Network’s Today’s Skills, Tomorrow’s Leaders program.

Then, the Governor-General, as Patron of the Battle for Australia Commemoration National Council, and Mrs Hurley, as guests of Air Vice-Marshal Roxley McLennan AO (Retd), attended Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.