Canberra, ACT

On Thursday 6 December 2018, at Government House, Canberra, the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency Paul de Jersey AC presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

Then, the Governor-General was represented by Honorary Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Kearns CSM, for the State Funeral of Dr Emestine Mabo AO in Townsville Stadium, Townsville.

In the afternoon, and on behalf of the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove, General Angus Campbell AO DSC, Chief of the Defence Force hosted a reception for ADFA and RMC-D graduands and the Spitfire Association and presented the 2019 Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship.

Later, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove were farewelled from Dulles International Airport, Washington DC by the Honourable Joseph Hockey, Australian Ambassador to the United States of America and Air Vice Marshal Alan Clements CSC, Head of Australian Defence Staff in the United States of America.