View from the top: The Governor’s take on SA’s worst year
It has been a year of dizzying highs and devastating lows for South Australians – so what’s our Governor’s take on 2023, asks Jess Adamson.
Opinion
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2023, a year of dizzying highs and devastating lows for South Australians.
We’ve witnessed natural disasters, tragedies on our roads, pain and hurt in the wake of the Voice referendum and the unacceptable deaths of local women to domestic violence.
We’ve also seen triumphs in our sporting arenas, at our tourism events, in business and the arts, bringing the eyes of the world to our state.
As I was trying to make sense of 2023 last week, I realised there’s one person who has a truly unique, bird’s eye view of our state and its people.
It’s our Governor, Her Excellency, Frances Adamson, AC.
She has hosted and attended 1101 engagements so far this year involving almost 93,000 people. That includes 226 receptions and functions at Government House, hundreds more outside the grounds, 20 regional tours, 93 school visits and 3 overseas trips.
Add to that 49 Adelaide Fringe and Festival performances, thousands of phone calls and business meetings and you have someone who truly feels the pulse of the people.
More often than not, her husband Mr Rod Bunten, is by the Governor’s side and they are a warm and dynamic duo who genuinely love listening to and talking with South Australians. They, perhaps more than anyone else in our state right now, have a sense of what we’re all feeling and where we’re heading.
And so, to help me reflect on the year that was, I met with Her Excellency at Government House last week. I arrived at 9.30am by which time she’d already received Premier Malinauskas for their monthly catch up and Mr Ernesto Pianelli, Consul, Consulate of Italy in SA. At least four more formal engagements followed that day.
But despite her full diary, the wonderful thing about being Governor, Her Excellency says, is that it’s personal.
She and Mr Bunten believe it’s entirely manageable to get to know a community of our size, given the connections between us.
“You meet people always willing to share their stories with you. That’s such an enormous privilege because you get a very layered experience of what matters to people and what makes us who we are,” Her Excellency says.
“We’re immensely fortunate to be able to celebrate high points in the lives of communities but also tough times. When you can have conversations with people about the tough times, those conversations can be very moving.”
The sudden deaths, just hours apart, of Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig and 18-year-old Charlie Stevens last month were among those tough times.
“Everyone is still hurting for SAPOL … they are such a significant part of our community and have always been a strength,” the Governor says.
“These things draw our community together in a tight embrace and that only happens in really close communities.”
Through various functions, the Governor and Mr Bunten have come to know our Police Commissioner and his wife Emma over the past 2 years.
“Rod and I, our hearts go out to the whole family,” she says.
“We also admire, as many South Australians do, their generosity of spirit and their willingness to celebrate Charlie’s life and to grieve as part of a bigger community that is beyond their family circle and circle of friends.”
Her Excellency singles out the first ever Executive Council meeting in public view to give Royal Assent to the First Nations Voice Bill as a highlight of 2023.
She acknowledges our First Nations people are hurting but has seen first-hand “the most amazing resilience”.
“The reconciliation journey continues, they understand that there is more work to be done,” she says.
“How lucky we are as Australians to live in this country which has been inhabited by these first Australian, Indigenous people for more than 60,000 years, with the knowledge they have and are willing to share.
“I think we can continue to work together in the spirit of reconciliation within the realities that exist.”
Her Excellency is becoming ever more optimistic about South Australia’s economic future, since being sworn in as our 36th Governor, in 2021.
“I think the wonderful thing about South Australia at the moment is if you’re a young person wondering what you’re going to do next, whether you’re going to take up a trade, go to TAFE or University, the world really is your oyster, there’s so much you can do,” she says.
“Our young men and women have an enormous amount to offer, and you know, one way or another, that they are really going to succeed.”
She’s donned her RM Williams boots to visit dozens of “world leading” farms and vineyards and says we should never underestimate how good our primary producers are at what they do.
The Governor is equally as excited about our renewable energy potential along with our space and defence industries and the “very, very significant opportunities” they will offer our children.
Many of the 93,000 people who’ve visited Government House this year, enjoyed the Illuminate Adelaide festival when the inspiring Into the Light projection shone on the facade.
The gates also opened for regular Lunch on the Lawns events, welcoming all South Australians to the magnificent gardens – young parents with small children and picnic rugs, students armed with sushi and Subway – and retirees, simply wanting to smell the roses.
Alfie, the Vice Regal cavoodle, was a regular and popular attendee.
“We really enjoy it,” Her Excellency says.
“People thank us for inviting them into our garden, but our view is that it’s their garden and a house for all South Australians.”
Her Excellency travelled to the UK in May to celebrate the Coronation of Their Majesties, The King and Queen.
She took a taste of SA with her, including her Coronation dress by local designer Cristina Tridente, handpainted by proud Ngarrindjeri, Narungga and Kaurna woman, Gabriel Stengle.
And from the Coronation to Coober Pedy, less than 2 weeks later the Governor and Mr Bunten were popular visitors to the outback town.
“Rod and I were deeply touched after three days there to be invited to become honorary citizens of Coober Pedy,” she says.
Gender equality is one of the Governor’s key priorities and a passion she weaves into her work every day.
“I simply want it to be known that I expect gender equality,” she says.
“As Governor I think it’s realistic and reasonable for me to expect it.”
She’s enjoyed the power of women’s sport this year, witnessing first-hand the Strikers WBBL win, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Liberty A League, SANFL W final and the AFLW Showdown.
These women, Her Excellency says, who play with sheer joy, are teaching us all about equality, with every move.
The Governor and Mr Bunten will spend some family time over Christmas on the South Coast, where Her Excellency is in charge of cooking the turkey on the Weber.
In January, they’re both returning to University to learn Pitjantjatjara.
They want to engage with First Nations people in their language, another step in their mission to meaningfully connect with as many South Australians as possible.
And so, as we look towards 2024, what does our Governor with the bird’s eye view, see?
“Even though economic times are tough I can see our community doubling down on its support for those in greater need,” she says.
“I can also see opportunity and potential and South Australians seizing that with both hands.
“We would never want to be complacent about the future but I think we have every right to face it with a high degree of confidence because we’re facing it together and we’re very focused to do what we need to do as South Australians.”
Happy Christmas everyone. Here’s to a happy and safe 2024.
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