‘Extraordinary, dedicated’: Governor-General pays tribute to flooding disaster relief efforts

Emergency and frontline disaster response workers have been honoured and recognised by one of Australia’s most powerful women, Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC.

The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC thanking first responders at Townsville City Council. Picture: Evan Morgan

Emergency and frontline disaster response workers have been honoured and recognised by one of Australia’s most powerful women, Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC.

Having appeared at Lavarack Barracks in the northern city on Monday to recognise and honour Australia’s peacekeeping forces in Somalia, Australia’s 28th Governor-General appeared at Townsville City Council’s chambers on Tuesday as the primary guest at a community reception recognising the region’s efforts in responding to the recent flooding.

“Today is all about the community and getting to know more about how Townsville has got through a number of really challenging moments, particularly with the floods, but also just post-Covid, how the region is going,” Ms Mostyn said.

“In my job, I talk about care all the time. In Townsville, there’s so many carers and so many people we’re meeting who are just taking care of each other.

“Emergency services and first responders, we’ll meet today, in part to say thank you on behalf of all Australians for that work they do, and also just for me to hear their stories so that I can amplify them as I travel around the country, and talk about the best form of care.”

Ms Mostyn said she was keenly aware, after talking with her predecessor David Hurley, of the trials and tribulation that the North Queensland region had been through since Covid.

The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC thanking first responders at Townsville City Council. Picture: Evan Morgan

“[He and his wife Linda] did say to me when I was starting that I’d have to pay attention to this part of Queensland because they knew just how much you had endured over many years,” Ms Mostyn said.

“I really experienced that in January and beyond as I watched, feeling quite helpless, from Canberra and saw you go through the floods and that long and difficult process of recovery.

“All of you here have worked so devotedly to preserve lives and livelihoods when disaster has struck, and you’ve had a fair share of it.

“So you are the most distinguished guests as far as I’m concerned today. It’s why I’m really delighted to come here at the invitation of the acting mayor to offer my thanks on behalf of so many across the region, but really around the country.

“This is just my second day in Townsville and my first official visit to the city as your Governor-General, but I hope it’ll be one of many visits to North Queensland over the five-year term of my office.

SES volunteer Les Parker with Ikey with the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC. Picture: Evan Morgan

“Flying in yesterday over this beautiful, beautiful country, I had the benefit of sitting with my aide-de-camp, Captain Katie Higgins, who had spent time here and on deployment in the base here for years.

“She explained to me as we flew in just how much that dramatic landscape that unfolds as you arrive tells you so much about the beauty of the place and how much of that beauty is a result of the unpredictability of nature, which you’ve certainly felt so much over the years and in recent months.”

Ms Mostyn said one of the ‘great joys’ of being Governor-General had been seeing the spirit and strength on offer throughout the Townsville community.

“I know that the strength of your community does flow from the extraordinary, dedicated, careful and very patient work of your first responders.”

Ms Mostyn also took time to film an Anzac Day message, set to be broadcast live at the Townsville cenotaph on Anzac Day.

“We wanted to respect the fact that this is a town that has experienced real loss and to pay tribute to that,” Ms Mostyn said.

Originally published as ‘Extraordinary, dedicated’: Governor-General pays tribute to flooding disaster relief efforts