Speeches
Thursday, 28 November 2024
Welcome and farewell to South Australian Australia Awards Scholars
I am pleased to join you this evening to celebrate the Australia Awards Scholars studying here in South Australia.
International diplomacy is often associated with the highest levels of government and business – political leaders, public servants or business CEOs forging ties in fields such as trade and national security.
However, as the world becomes more globalised, connected and complex, relationships between nations at all levels of society are increasingly important.
As Governor, and as a career diplomat, I have witnessed first-hand the great potential of building diverse relationships across multiple fields in addition to government and business. Fields such as education, arts, culture and sport.
These relationships are important to creating a safer, healthier and more enjoyable planet for us all.
Australia has for decades viewed tertiary education as an investment in our region, in our regional and bilateral relations, in our shared future and, very importantly, in individuals.
As Australia Awards Scholars, you are important ambassadors of your home countries.
We thank you for sharing your cultures and languages with us, and for enriching our tertiary institutions with your dedication to learning and to being part of their student communities.
Your fields of study here in South Australia are diverse, from geology to education, artificial intelligence to environmental studies, and many more.
Yet, they all reflect a common goal - your commitment to developing knowledge and skills that will stand you in good stead for a successful professional career, as well as being of direct benefit to your home nation.
I thank you for choosing South Australia as your study destination and I hope you are enjoying your time here.
Our state has many great attributes – excellent food and wine, beautiful beaches, mild weather and a lifestyle that enables both hard work and recreation.
As I have learned from my own experiences of living overseas, all adventures abroad can present challenges, and I trust your time here is helping you to develop confidence in your personal resilience, flexibility and creativity.
As future leaders in your chosen fields, you will assist your home and host nations in progressing our mutual desire for a strong, safe and prosperous region.
For those of you who are approaching the end of your studies and will shortly return home, I hope your time in Adelaide will prove part of a life-long connection with South Australia.
As you progress in your chosen professions, I hope you will actively draw on your study experiences here and use them as a platform for your next endeavours in driving change and development.
Please continue to think of South Australia as an enduring partner in your careers.
To those scholars who are continuing, I wish you an enjoyable holiday break, whether you are returning home or having some quiet time here in Adelaide, before resuming your studies in the new year.
Please share your experiences of being an Australia Awards scholar with your family, friends and broader community – we hope to see many more scholars from your home countries in South Australia soon.
I wish you all the very best as you go out into the world, forging careers in your chosen fields and, I hope, as active Global Australia alumni.