SPEECH BY

HIS EXCELLENCY

MAJOR GENERAL MICHAEL JEFFERY AC CVO MC (Retd)

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

AT THE INAUGURAL QUEENSLAND YOUTH ALLIANCE AWARDS FOR

EXCELLENCE

PARLIAMENT HOUSE, BRISBANE

FRIDAY, 26 MARCH 2004

Speaker of the House, Honourable Raymond Hollis

Chairman, Queensland Youth Alliance, Mr Alan Sherlock and Mrs Sherlock

Tonight's Award recipients

Their families and friends

Ladies and gentlemen

Good evening, everyone, and thank you so much for inviting me to say a few words

before the presentations.

Marlena and I are very pleased to be in Queensland again, and we've greatly

appreciated your warmth and hospitality this evening.

We think the Queensland Youth Alliance Awards for Excellence are an outstanding

idea, and we're delighted to lend our active support to this year's inaugural program.

When we think about tonight's Award category titles, I believe that the Alliance,

itself, embodies all three of those qualities - providing this State with "inspirational"

"community" "leadership".

Established in 1996, the Alliance today incredibly represents more than 100,000

young people and many thousands of volunteer leaders in this State, and I want to say

more about the latter shortly.

It unites many of Queensland's major youth organisations - thus serving to provide

opportunities and experiences for the positive development of young people.

I hope you will encourage all major youth groups to join the Alliance - including St

John Ambulance and the three service cadet organisations.

As some of you may know, I've long been an active and passionate supporter of

youth groups or programs in Australia.

I'm passionate about this subject because I've seen - first-hand - how membership of

some form of interesting and well-led group can provide kids with the sense of

purpose, direction and belonging that so many of them are searching for these days.

Indeed, it was no accident that the "headline" message of my first keynote Australia

Day speech as Governor-General was for young people to improve themselves and

their community by joining a group.

Of course, this probably isn't news to you - you're out there, every day,

demonstrating the value of genuine community involvement.

One of the great things about Marlena's and my role is the opportunity it affords to

meet so many bright, energetic, ambitious and idealistic young Australians.

For example, recently, Marlena and I have talked with:

• budding Aboriginal engineering students

• a huge jamboree of 11,500 Scouts

• some 120 of our top young science minds

• school children helping to restore the Murray River

• a group of impressive young Australian artists and musicians based in London

• and 150 high school students learning about Australia's Constitution

• whilst 120 - 180 school children from allover Australia visit Government
  House daily.

Together, they continue to demonstrate that young people are our single most
important national asset and that many are well placed to become our leading citizens
of tomorrow.

Ladies and gentlemen.

In a moment, we'll have the privilege of meeting around 25 outstanding young

Queenslanders - all winners of inaugural Youth Alliance Awards.

The range and depth of their achievements is incredible.

They include expedition leaders and cadets, festival organisers and surf life savers.

And those helping seriously ill or disabled children, plus others volunteering in youth

detention centres.

Some would say their achievements speak for themselves.

But I think it's vitally important we explicitly and publicly reward - and further

encourage - such activities through award programs such as this.

There is an enormous number of "unsung heroes" in our community, and I believe

there's scope to better recognise them - including through the Australian Honours

System.

It certainly wouldn't hurt us to redress the balance a little.

To acknowledge those true leaders of all ages - particularly the young - who do

selfless, grass roots, voluntary work, for example, rather than those who are simply

"famous" or "high profile".

Ladies and gentlemen.

It's been wonderful to talk with you.

May I take the liberty of congratulating - in advance - all of tonight's inaugural

Queensland Youth Alliance Awards for Excellence winners.

Marlena and I commend you for being outstanding role models, and we applaud your

parents and friends for helping you to achieve so much for your communities, your State

and your country.

Good luck to everyone associated with the Alliance.

Keep up the good work, and let's get the message through to the other States and

Territories - where appropriate - about emulating what you're doing here in Queensland.

Thank you.