Monday, 2 December 2024
Government House
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC

Bujari gamarruwa, Diyn Babana

Gamarada Gadigal Ngura

In greeting you in the language of the Gadigal, Traditional Owners of these lands and waterways, I pay my respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. I extend that respect to Elders of all parts of our State from which you travel.

It is always a privilege, as Patron of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award NSW, to have you here at Government House.

It is an occasion to celebrate your achievements as Duke of Ed Gold Level Achievers, undoubtedly with a sigh of relief that it is over and with the pride that comes with having done it. It is also a time to reflect on what achieving the award has done for you… and how it will carry you into the futures.

You will each have your own perspectives on this—but let me share HRH Prince Edward’s, now the Duke of Edinburgh, on what The Duke of Ed experience had meant to him.  

“[That] everybody’s got a talent, everybody’s got a passion, everybody’s got an ability”^[1]. The vital thing, he said, was “how … you develop that”^[2]

One thing that stands out in your achievements is that you persevered—‘toughed it out’—during these times which were particularly challenging. That is how you build resilience—it is not something that comes packaged to you in a little box. The range of adventures you have engaged in is worthy of a reality TV show—hiking, kayaking, sailing, or tall ships, climbing mountains, learning about, enjoying and respecting the outdoors.

The Gold Residential Project is where you have had to learn the unique combination of independence and co-operation. However, it is the Voluntary Service Component of the Award which is something upon which I would like to particularly focus.

First: thank you—I know it was a compulsory part of the program, but your contribution has already been impactful: through charity work, volunteering with the SES, RFS, being a member of your local Surf Life Saving Club.

Secondly: I want to stress how important it is for you to continue these activities. Our emergency services—RFS, SES, Marine Rescue, Surf Life Saving—are all volunteer-driven, and they need young people to continue, so as to protect our communities—as do all the charities. Voluntary work is a huge commitment. You won’t be able to be a part of our wonderful volunteering community all of the time as at various times in your lives you will have other priorities. But when you can, it will be one of the most significant things that you will do. 

It is a cliché, but it is true. Our future is in the hands of our youth. And looking around this room, I know that future is in very, very good hands indeed.

[1] HRH Prince Edward, in an interview undertaken during visit to Australia 2023, available here

[2] ibid.