Fernberg Quarterly - 2nd quater 2015

Open Day - 150 years of FernbergThe gates of Fernberg - the historic Estate, home to Queensland Governors since 1910 and this year 150 years old - will open to the public on 6 June 2015 for a commemorative Open Day.

The original part of Fernberg - which means ‘distant mountain’ in German - was constructed in 1865 by German-born merchant and later Queensland politician Johann Heussler.

Since then, Fernberg has undergone a number of significant renovations. The iconic front facade and tower were installed by then-owner John Stevenson in the 1880s. In the 1930s the Queensland Government, who acquired the Estate in 1910, built an eastern wing including formal and ceremonial function rooms.

Continues on page 3.

IN THIS ISSUE

FERNBERG QUARTERLY • ISSUE 1, 2ND QUARTER 2015

Improving Government House

access

Anzac Day address

Regional Support

150 years of Fernberg - Open Day

ISSUE 1, 2ND QUARTER 2015A QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Fernberg Quarterly

Welcome to the first expanded stakeholder edition of the Fernberg Quarterly.

Previously, the Office of the Governor distributed this beneficial publication to our Volunteer Guides and staff. We have decided to broaden the audience to include our valued external stakeholders, and indeed the wider public – I am dutifully advised this will be available soon on the Government House website and social media accounts!

Through the Fernberg Quarterly, we aim to keep you in-formed of the Governor’s crucial constitutional, ceremo-nial and community duties (what we like to call the ‘three Cs’). This edition will feature aspects of the Governor’s ceremonial role - representing the people of Queensland at recent occasions of State and national sig-nificance, namely Anzac Day and the opening of the 55th Queensland Parliament.

As you read through forthcoming editions, we also hope you will learn more about the Office’s work preserving and maintaining the heritage-listed Fernberg Estate – including Government House, which this year is 150 years old.

In that respect, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey are graciously opening the gates of the Estate to the public for a special 150th Anniversary Open Day on 6 June 2015. You are all warmly invited to attend. There will be tours of the House and Estate gardens, and plenty of room for the family to lay out a rug and soak up this (hopefully) magnificent Queensland winter sun. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Air Commodore Mark Gower OAMOfficial Secretary

Like www.facebook.com/QldGovernor

for more Open Day informationor visit

www.govhouse.qld.gov.au

Image: There are 14 hectares of formal landscaped and native bushland gardens to explore at Open Day on 6 June 2015.

From the Official Secretary

PAGE 2 OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Opening timesThe gates will open to members of the public on 6 June 2015 from 12 - 4pm.

Entry pointsEntry is free via the Service Gate at 168 Fernberg Road, Paddington or near Norman Buchan Park, Baroona Road, Bardon.

ParkingParking is available at Norman Buchan Park, Baroona Road, Bardon, and in the streets surrounding the Estate (off Fernberg Road, Paddington). There is no on-site parking available.

ToursFree tours of Government House and guided tours of the gardens will run throughout the afternoon.

Disability drop-offsDisability drop-off is available through the Service Gate at 168 Fernberg Road, Paddington - for assistance please phone 3858 5700.

Food and beverageYou may bring your own food and beverages on-site (no alcohol). Limited food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Open Day - 6 June 2015FREE ENTRY - HOUSE & GARDEN TOURS - GATES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 12 - 4PM

From page 1.

@ QLD GOVERNOR INSIGHTS • ISSUE 12, 2ND QUARTER 2015 PAGE 3FERNBERG QUARTERLY

Anzac Day Dawn Service of Remembrance

As dawn breaks, we again stand together in the dim light. We stand together respectfully and thankfully.

We stand together in solemn recognition of extraordinary people: fellow Australians who served, suffered and died to uphold our freedom.

It was at this time of day, a century ago, and half a world away, that a group of young Australians and New Zea-landers landed on the beaches of Gallipoli. They were true nationals, from our multicultural, Caucasian and Indigenous backgrounds.

They didn’t know it at the time, but those courageous young men were the makings of a legend. It was at Anzac Cove, and on the rugged slopes of the inhospitable Galli-poli Peninsula, that the Australian identity was born.

This Anzac spirit – the ideals of courage, endurance and mateship, was forged in the tragedy of the Gallipoli cam-paign. It has ever since been the hallmark of our armed services. It has ever since inspired us individually, and as a nation, to be the best we can be.

We recognise however that accompanying that positive Anzac spirit, was the reality of war. Les Carlyon says in his acclaimed work ‘Gallipoli’, “At Gallipoli on April Twenty Five, romance and realism met on the battlefield. As it always does, romance lost”.

What was that shocking reality? In the eight month cam-paign, more than eight thousand seven hundred Austra-lian servicemen were killed in action or died of wounds or

disease, and almost 18 thousand were wounded or captured.

Queensland, along with the other States, contributed the cream of its youth to the Great War. Queensland contrib-uted 58 thousand, nearly 40 per cent of the male pop-ulation aged 18 to 44. Ponder that proportion – 40 per cent of all men aged 18 to 44. Many of those young men served at Gallipoli.

“The ideals of courage, endurance and mateship... forged in the tragedy of the

Gallipoli campaign.”

Lieutenant Duncan Chapman was a twenty-seven year old platoon commander in Queensland’s Ninth Battalion. He made history when he became the first soldier ashore on the Gallipoli Peninsula – at this dawn – a hundred years ago today. How appropriate it is that we respectful-ly acknowledge Lt Chapman today.

The casualty figures for the Great War were huge: over sixty thousand Australians killed and one hundred and fifty six thousand wounded, gassed or taken prisoner; stunning, shocking. However, those figures cannot give a feel for the individual family tragedies played out as a result of this conflict.

The reality is that the cream of the nation was lost a century ago; families throughout the nation were left to mourn, and they still mourn.

Speech as delivered at the 2015 Anzac Day Dawn Service of Remembrance, Anzac Square, Brisbane by His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland


Let us reflect for a moment on the Keid family from Graceville, but a few kilometres to the west of this Shrine of Remembrance. Six Keid brothers volunteered to serve in the First World War. Only two returned home. Bill was killed at Gallipoli, and while his brother Ted survived the whole Gallipoli campaign, he was to die later in action in Belgium.

Leonard and Walter were also both killed on the Western Front - in the same battle, at Pozieres, in nineteen sixteen. Although wounded at Gallipoli, brother Harry survived the war, as did the youngest brother Guy. How these days could we hope to deal with that cruel hand of fate?

The Keid family and many other grieving families throughout Queensland and the nation received more than their fair share of ‘Dead Man’s Pennies’ and official pink telegrams with that dreaded phrase: “It is with deep regret and sympathy…”. How pale, by contrast, are our daily tribulations.

The so-called ‘Dead Man’s Penny’ was a bronze memorial plaque issued by the King. It was issued to the next of kin of personnel killed in action in World War One.

The plaque bore an image of Britannia standing with a lion over a defeated eagle. The serviceman’s name was engraved, and without rank, as there is equality in sacrifice. It was inscribed: “He died for our freedom and honour.”

The great uncle of my Official Secretary Air Commodore Mark Gower, was killed in action in the Great War. The Official Secretary –himself a distinguished serviceman – has shown me the ‘Dead Man’s Penny’ of his great uncle, Sapper Henry Thomas Gower of the Royal Engineers, which I now display in this respectful assembly.

The recognition our society accords for such conspicuous service must surpass the token; it must be long-standing, and indeed ever continue, consistently with the interde-pendence which binds and defines us all. This year we focus on Gallipoli, and for good reason. It marks the centenary of our nation’s first contribution to global security, in far-away Turkey. It marks the creation of the Anzac spirit, the defining moment of our nationhood.

This is the spirit which has imbued the service of Austra-lians on many subsequent fronts.

And so we also remember this early morning the sailors, soldiers and airmen who have served – and serve – in Africa, Turkey, Europe, the Middle and Far East, the Pacific and Afghanistan. We remember those who served in conflict and as peacekeepers.

And we remember with profound gratitude the families of those who have served. We acknowledge the sacri-fices they have endured, and will continue to endure, supporting those who have put themselves in “Harm’s Way” for our country, for us. That endurance, as we now increasingly accept, extends to psychological harm, even for lifetimes, afflicting both serving personnel and their families.

Since Remembrance Day nineteen-thirty, the Eternal Flame of Remembrance has been burning in this Shrine in Anzac Square. Under the tutelage and guidance of my parents, my teachers, I was moved by that circumstance as a child and as a youth, and I still am – deeply. This flame burns constantly. It burns as a reminder for me, for all of us, of the sacrifices made by our men and women at arms – sacrifices made to preserve and defend the freedom we have today.

Let us never take that hard-won freedom for granted. And in this world of regrettably increasing uncertainty and unpredictability, there is need for particular vigilance.

May I suggest finally that it is appropriate for all of us to ask ourselves this morning whether we are the worthy beneficiaries of the sacrifices we respectfully proclaim today?

We will indeed be worthy of those sacrifices if we seek to exhibit in our daily lives the qualities of those who fought and died for us at Gallipoli, and in the many conflicts which followed – the characteristics of selflessness, comradeship and dedication to the common good.

If we strive to live according to those principles, if to those ends we can truly rededicate ourselves today, then we may hereafter claim with demonstrable conviction: “Their name liveth for evermore”.

“We will indeed be worthy of their sacrifice if we seek to exhibit... selflessness, comradeship and

dedication to the common good.”


His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC delivered the Governor’s speech at the opening of the first session of the 55th Parliament of Queensland. The formal ceremony was held in the Legislative Council Chamber (Queensland’s former Upper House of Parliament) on Wednesday, 25 March 2015.

The Governor is the representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queensland’s Head of State, and fulfils a number of important constitutional, community and ceremonial duties.

The opening of Parliament is one of the Governor’s chief ceremonial duties.

Opening of Parliament

Supporting regional QueenslandWhen His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC was sworn in as Queensland’s 26th Governor in July 2014, the commitment was made not to forget regional Queenslanders.

Ten months on, having visited more than 25 towns and locations outside of Brisbane, the Governor continues to fulfil that crucial regional commitment, with a particular focus on supporting those affected by the State’s prolonged drought.

In addition to visiting drought-affected towns and regions like Winton, Boulia, Alpha, Emerald and Charleville, in February 2015 the Governor invited three pastoralist families from properties near Charleville, Winton and Blackall to stay as guests at Government House in Brisbane. All three families were also guests of honour at a reception hosted by the Governor and Mrs Kaye de Jersey at Government House in support of drought affected Queenslanders. The Governor caught up with one of those pastoralist couples, John and Katrina Paine from Daintree Station, when visit-ing Winton in April 2015.

In fulfilling His Excellency’s important community roles – promoting social cohesion and shining ight upon often unsung and unseen contributions – the Governor has also sought to recognise the vital work organisations (a number of which attended the drought reception) are undertaking to support drought-afflicted Queenslanders.

In October 2014, for example, the Governor officially opened the new Royal Flying Doctor Service (of which His Excellency is also Patron) hangar and visitor centre in Charleville.

Image: At Parliament House, Queensland.

Image: The Governor, Winton Mayor ‘Butch’ Lenton and Bladensburg National Park Ranger Alistair Hartley near Winton, Central West Queensland.


Governor hosts post TC Marcia reception

As at May 2015, the number of drought-declared councils sits at 33 with another three part declared. Additionally, there are 63 Individually Droughted Properties in a further five council areas.

“Kaye and I have been deeply moved by the plight of those people of the West we have met, especially those affected

by the drought. Their resilience is compelling. Many appear to survive on hard work and hope, and are nourished by

connectedness to family and community.”

On 30 April 2015, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland and Mrs Kaye de Jersey hosted a reception to recognise the contribution of those who assisted with disaster management activities associated with Tropical Cyclone (TC) Marcia.

TC Maria made landfall just north of Yeppoon on 20 February 2015. In the following weeks, the Governor visited a number of cyclone- and flood-affected regions, including Yeppoon, Rockhampton, Byfield, Emu Park, Gympie, Thangool and Biloela. The Mayors of Livingstone Shire, Rockhampton City, Gympie Regional and Banana Shire Councils were invited to attend the reception and stay as guests at Government House.

The Governor has visited more than 25 towns and locations outside Brisbane since July 2014

A quote from the Governor’s speech at a reception held in support of drought-affected Queenslanders at Government House in February 2015.

Image: The Governor, Winton Mayor ‘Butch’ Lenton and Bladensburg National Park Ranger Alistair Hartley near Winton, Central West Queensland.


Photography by Best Photos

The installation of two all-access lifts and a new covered walkway at Government House as part of the Equitable Access Project is nearing completion.

The additions will enhance access to Government House for all Queenslanders and ensure it remains a place where visitors feel warmly welcomed, whatever their level of ability.

The project commenced in September last year and will be officially opened in June 2015.

Improving access to

Government House

Contact: 07 3858 5700 Email: [email protected]

twitter.com/QldGovernor

www.facebook.com/QldGovernor

@QldGovernor Tweets

It means beginning in Greek but today #Alpha is the end destination on the Governor’s 2 day central & west #Qld trip

May 20

PTE Simpson aka ‘Simpson & donkey’ died #onthisday 1915 #Gallipoli, he worked in #Qld prior to deployment #qldhistory

May 19

This week the Governor will present nearly 150 #Qlders with honours & awards at 5 ceremonies #qldpol #itsanhonour

May 6

9 7

4 3

5 7

Mrs de Jersey receives roses during #cysticfibrosis #65roses month at a Goverment House reception supporting @cfqld

May 12

5 3


Fernberg Quarterly - 2nd quater 2015

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Transcript of Fernberg Quarterly - 2nd quater 2015