MEDIA ADVISORY: GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO VISIT EMERALD

6 February 2008

His Excellency, Major General Michael Jeffery, will visit the flood affected areas around Emerald on Friday, the 8th of February.

The Governor-General and Mrs Jeffery have been closely following reports of the torrential rain and subsequent flooding in northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland and the Governor-General wrote to the Queensland Premier in early January expressing support for the work of emergency services personnel.

Their Excellencies had expressed a desire to visit the flood affected areas to offer their support in person but waited on the advice of local authorities to ensure that the visit did not get in the way of the critically important work of emergency workers in dealing with the floods.

Emerald is now in the recovery phase and this provides the Governor-General with an opportunity to meet the local community, emergency services personnel and volunteer groups like the Red Cross.

The Governor-General will arrive in Emerald around 9.30am and will then be accompanied by the Mayor on a tour of the town and its immediate environs.

The Governor-General will return to Council Chambers and receive a briefing on the floods and the priorities during the recovery phase.

He will then join members of the local community and emergency service personnel for morning tea.

The Governor-General will extend, on behalf of all Australians, his sympathy to those who have been affected by the floods and acknowledge the outstanding contribution of the various emergency service workers and volunteers supporting those in need of assistance.



Media Contact:
Stephen Jiggins
02 62833519 or 0408 480 779
Government House
6 February 2008