On Wednesday 22 August 2012, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, received from Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Halaevalu Mata’aho Napua Okalani Tuku’aho, Letters of Commission accrediting her as High Commissioner for the Kingdom of Tonga. The High Commissioner was accompanied by Mr Taueli Falekava Kupu (First Secretary) and Mr Leonaitasi Kuluni (First Secretary).

Ms Michelle Bachelet AC, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, was appointed an honorary Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia during a ceremony at Government House in Canberra.

Ms Bachelet received the honorary AC for her eminent service to developing Australia-Chile bilateral relations, and for outstanding global leadership in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.

She was the first woman to be elected Head of State in Latin America, serving as Chile’s President between 2006 and 2010.

On Tuesday 21 August 2012, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

Earlier, the Governor-General, as Patron of HeartKids Australia, received the Chair, Mr Brian Pereira; the Vice Chair, Dr Anne Fletcher; the Chief Executive Officer, Ms Jann Kingston; and the Treasurer, Mr Matt Tognini.

Afterwards, the Governor-General received the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, His Excellency Mr Cornelis Andreae and Mrs Christine Gervoson de Sierven.

The Governor-General, as Patron of HeartKids Australia, received representatives from the organisation at Government House, Canberra.

On Monday 20 August 2012, at Government House, the Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, received the President of Australian Women in Agriculture, Ms Marion Rak, and Board Members Ms Lauren Brisbane, Ms Susan Jenkins, Ms Catherine Marriott, Ms Elaine Paton, Ms Vivian Thompson and Ms Jan Walker.

In the evening, the Governor-General, as Chancellor, and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, hosted a dinner for The Council for the Order of Australia.

On Sunday 19 August 2012, at Government House Canberra, the Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, hosted to lunch the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the Honourable Chief Justice Robert French AC and Mrs Valerie French.

On Saturday 18 August 2012, at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, the Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, as guests of the President of the Vietnam Veterans’ Association of Australia ACT branch, Mr Pete Ryan, attended a Vietnam Veterans’ Remembrance Day Service, at which the Governor-General read the first lesson and laid a floral tribute.

In Canberra, the Governor-General and Mr Michael Bryce paid tribute to Australians who served in Vietnam, at a service marking Vietnam Veterans’ Remembrance Day.

The service, at the National Australian Vietnam Forces Memorial on Anzac Parade, marked the 50th anniversary of the Australian Army Training Team’s arrival in Vietnam and its participation in the conflict.

After the service, Ms Bryce and Mr Bryce met Vietnam veterans, their families and Canberra school students.

On Friday 17 August 2012, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO received the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency Mr Omar Metwally and Mrs Ghada Elhindawy.

Afterwards, the Governor-General received the Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Newcastle, Professor Caroline McMillen.

The Governor-General and Mr Michael Bryce joined Vietnam veterans at a ceremony to acknowledge the loan of the Long Tan Cross from the Dong Nai Museum to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Ms Bryce described the opportunity of seeing the Long Tan Cross as “priceless”. “(Australians) can come here to see this wonderful symbol of what those brave soldiers did, and perhaps they will come to understand, even if just a little, what service and sacrifice truly mean,” Ms Bryce said.