Address by Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO

Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

LOCKYER VALLEY REGIONAL COUNCIL FIRST ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE

10 JANUARY 2012

My Dear Friends

Thank-you for welcoming Michael and me back to your Valley.

I want you to know how much it means to me to be here with you.

How much I appreciate sharing this commemoration with you.

To express, on behalf of our fellow Australians, the

respect, admiration and affection we have

• For each one of you, from Murphy’s Creek, Withcott, Helidon, Grantham, Gatton, Forrest Hill, Plain Land, Hattonvale, Laidley

And all the tiny little settlements in between

• For the 35,000 people whose lives were fundamentally altered one year ago, some in terrible, irreversible ways. An anguished time when our country stopped with shock and disbelief as we saw the devastation that struck this beautiful land.

The heartbreaking ruin of homes and gardens, businesses and farms.

Most crippling of all, the loss of family members, your dearest and closest loves.

Our hearts ached for you.

We could only imagine the depth of your grief and your pain,

but we saw, shining through,

the strength of the ties that bind your communities; Your guts, grit, kindness and courage, the finest of human values.

You knew, and we knew that the rebuilding would be hard, relentlessly so.

I want to assure you that you have never been out of our thoughts, as you have faced the bad days and the good days.

I want to promise you too, that we are with you every step as you push on.

My Friends, some things will never be the same in the Lockyer Valley.

Some things have changed forever.

But some have not.

They will endure.

I speak of those characteristics that I have observed among you again and again – your toughness and your compassion.

For all of us, today is a reminder of what is most important to us,

as individuals, and as a community.

And that is the future of our little ones, of the next generation, our children.

I know how much they mean to you, I have seen it many times.

- In your schools

- In the gatherings I have shared with you across the years

I saw that your schools were the places that brought you together, one year ago. They stand at the very heart of your little towns. They signify joyousness and hope in the sounds, smiles, laughter and vivacity of your young – their faith, their imagination.

My Friends, they are your inspiration as you continue to heal, with confidence and optimism, secure in our support and care.

Today, all Australians are thinking of you.

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls. It is my pleasure to read to you a message from Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge.

On this first anniversary of your devastating floods, I wish to pay my respects to, and express my admiration for, the people of the Lockyer Valley.

Before I arrived last March, I anticipated scenes of destruction and personal despair. Instead, I found courage and greatness of spirit. I felt privileged to have been in your company.

The way you dealt with the terrible events last year was an inspiration, not just to other Australians, but to people around the world.

I applaud you for coming so far so quickly, and I wish you well as you continue along the path to recovery. I keenly await news of your progress in the months and years ahead.