Speeches
Saturday, 12 October 2024
Cystic Fibrosis Remembrance Ceremony
It is a privilege to join you this morning.
Rod and I are honoured to be joint patrons of Cystic Fibrosis South Australia, and to host this remembrance ceremony each year.
Whether you are attending this ceremony for the first time, or have attended several times before, I warmly welcome you to the Government House grounds.
Rod and I often find peace in the beauty and spaciousness of these gardens, and we hope they provide you all with a fitting place for remembrance and reflection.
Today, we remember your sons and daughters, friends and partners, husbands and wives who have passed away.
We celebrate those you loved and how they lived their lives.
As patron, I take particular notice whenever someone with CF is in the news.
I’ve noticed these articles are often about someone with CF approaching their condition with positivity, and resolutely pursuing their goals.
These stories remind me of the great strength and resilience shown by people living with CF.
They remind me of the many wonderful achievements of people with CF, even if their lives are not as long as they deserve.
This morning we honour the unique and inspiring qualities of your loved ones.
We remember the strength they showed in the face of difficult times, but also the joy they experienced while alive.
While news stories can be inspiring, they can’t really convey a person’s whole story.
Today we remember all aspects of those you loved; their fears and disappointments, as well as their talents and abilities.
We remember the small things: their favourite foods, the way they spoke, what made them smile.
And we honour the love you shared together, which lives on within you.
Friends,
I thank you for keeping alive the memory of the people you loved, and for being part of this ceremony.
I thank many of you who continue to raise awareness of CF in our community, as well as vital funds to support people with CF, their families, and the researchers working to develop treatments for the disease.
I thank Cystic Fibrosis South Australia for organising today’s ceremony and for its important work over the past 50 years, as well as the Adelaide University Medical Orchestra for its uplifting performance.
I trust that today’s ceremony will bring you some comfort and peace.