Thursday, 1 May 2025
Government House
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC

Thank you, Uncle Allen^[1] for your warm Welcome to Country. You are so much a part of the heart and soul of these traditional lands and of and Government House Sydney.

I pay my respects to Gadigal Elders and to the Elders of the nations from across Australia from which our guests have travelled for this 2025 Order of Australia Association National Conference.

As Patron of the Order of Australia Association NSW, I welcome you all to Government House.

In three weeks’ time, this House takes on a special resplendence and sparkle – the crystal pendants of the chandeliers will shine even more brightly, timbers will be polished to a rich lustre, freshly cut flowers will stand tall in deference to a significant occasion. Music from swing to jazz to baroque will waft through the gardens, played by wonderful musicians on the Arcade or in the Minstrels Gallery.  Medals will gleam, awaiting their proud new appointments.  

I speak, of course, of the investitures of the 230 NSW recipients in the Order of Australia Honours announced on Australia Day this year.

Since my appointment in 2019, I have had the privilege of conducting more than 150 Order of Australia investiture ceremonies.  As I mentioned at the Garden Party to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Order of Australia Australian Honours system on the 15 February this year, each ceremony is both inspiring and humbling.

Over the past 50 years, almost 50,000 Australians have received an appointment in the Order of Australia, an Australian ‘Society of Honour’, as designated by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the occasion of signing the Letters Patent on 14 February 1975 at St James Court which established the Order. 

Our Sovereign, now Kings Charles III, himself a recipient, appointed a Knight of the Order of Australia on 14 March 1981, is Head of the Order.  The Governor-General is the Principal Companion and Chancellor.

An Honours system of this stature begets an Honours Association. 

On Australia Day, 26 January 1980, five years after the Order was established and a mere three years after the first investitures, the Order of Australia Association was founded, with the support of the then Governor-General Zelman Cowen, as a national body to “celebrate and promote outstanding Australian citizenship.”^[2]  

According to your Constitution, this purpose is reflected by:

• raising public awareness about the Order of Australia and promoting high quality nominations for appointments and awards that reflect the diversity of the Australian community,
• supporting young Australians as they prepare for their careers and encouraging them in service to the nation,
• providing opportunities for recipients of appointments and awards in the Order of Australia to build networks with other recipients, and
• through other activities consistent with the purpose of the Association.

Tonight, we gather in celebration of the common bond of fellowship that is at the heart of the Association – independent of political, social, cultural or economic circumstances, which serves to encourage others in their contributions to the Australian community.

An important part of your work lies in encouraging and “supporting the next generation to reach their potential” through the Order of Australia Association Foundation. The five Scholarships offered to Awardees during this Conference will benefit not only the young recipients but the wider community as they do every year.  The foresight in establishing the Foundation is to be commended and your generosity in ensuring its continuance is redolent of the ethos of the Association itself.

As you look forward to the next few days of the Conference with its important call to action to “Celebrate, Motivate, Nominate”, I can think of no better a group of people to take on this mantle of “Inspiring Australian Achievers.” Thank you for your leadership, your contribution and example to others.

In this 45th year of the Association, your presence at this year’s conference is important and is appreciated.  I wish you well for your deliberations – and celebrations – over the next few days. 

[1] Uncle Allen Madden, Gadigal Elder

[2] Order of Australia Association Constitution, Foreword and Purpose (8)