Governor of Victoria

Each year, around the time of National Reconciliation Week, the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service is held at the .



It’s an opportunity for all Victorians to honour the service of First Nations men and women, who have served, or continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force.



For a long time, their sacrifices were not acknowledged.



Attending this year’s ceremony, the Governor laid a wreath on behalf of the people of Victoria.

Photo credit to James Henry.

Last week the Governor hosted three significant receptions at Government House for different groups in the Victorian community.

Firstly, an awards ceremony recognised the contributions of staff and volunteers in Victoria.

This was followed by a reception to mark the 70th anniversary of and celebrate its contribution to conserving cultural heritage.

The next day, the Governor hosted an afternoon tea with where she was joined by members of emergency services organisations and their families.

Throughout the week, the Governor received several callers, including the Consul-General of Chile; Dame Susan Langley DBE, Lady Mayor of the City of London; and the Youth Governor of Victoria with staff from , as well as attending the launch event for .melbourne.

Concluding the week, on Sunday the Governor attend the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service, at the Shrine of Remembrance.

As Victorians, we must ensure the efforts of our emergency services workers are never taken for granted – and we must do what we can to ease the burden it brings.

Just as they strive to protect life and limb, we must do our part in support of their wellbeing.

As Patron, the Governor hosted an afternoon tea with for members of emergency services organisations and their families.

The event is a small token of appreciation from a grateful State, and an acknowledgment of the challenges these workers face and our State’s commitment to supporting them and their families.

Physical structures and cultural heritage go hand in hand – conserving one helps to protect the other.

For seventy years now, the National Trust has made an invaluable contribution to the preservation of both in our State.

In doing so, it has ensured these sites, their histories and their meanings, can continue to be experienced.

As Patron-in-Chief, the Governor congratulated and all its supporters on seventy years of dedication to this cause in Victoria.

In Victoria, we are fortunate to have so many people who share an impulse for compassion.

And we are lucky to have organisations such as through which they can direct it towards creating meaningful change.

Hosting the annual Victoria Awards, the Governor – as Patron – congratulated all the recipients and presented them with their awards.

These awards are testament not only to their acts of service, but also to their consistent compassion which exists at all times.

After returning from an Official Visit to China, this week the Governor paid a visit to the , as well as hosting a reception to mark the 50th anniversary of the Victorian Parliamentary Former Members Association.

During the week, the Governor received the welcome call of the High Commissioner for Canada, the call of the Chair and the CEO of the , and the Co-Chairs of .

The Governor also attended an Honorary Doctorate Conferral to Simon McKeon AO at

Ensuring our democracy remains stable depends on us understanding its essential elements, participating to maintain its integrity, and protecting its underpinning principles.

Those who have served in Parliament can be proud of their contributions to this stability.

And life after Parliament does not prevent them from helping to ensure its preservation into the future.

Hosting a reception to mark the 50th anniversary of the Victorian Parliamentary Members Association, the Governor thanked them for their contributions, both past and ongoing, to this quiet success that is our democracy.

The St Kilda Shule has been an important part of Victoria’s Jewish community for over 150 years.

This is a significant achievement not only in terms of its rich history, but also in the strength of faith that it has sustained across this time.

Those years represent countless stories, customs and traditions that have been passed down generations.

On a visit to , the Governor saw firsthand how it is more than a physical place of worship – it also provides a vital space of social support for its congregation.

Sichuan is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Dujiangyan Irrigation System.
 
Concluding her time in the Sichuan Province, the Governor visited this important site.
 
It was an opportunity to reinforce Victoria’s commitment to meaningful cultural exchange with Sichuan.
 
The visit was the conclusion to a constructive week of engagements in China exploring greater opportunities for collaboration and investment with Victoria.