GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO VISIT TONGA AND PAPUA NEW GUINEA

24 July 2008

The Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery, and Mrs Jeffery will travel to the Kingdom of Tonga to represent the government and people of Australia at the Coronation of HM King George Tupou V.

The Governor-General attended the State Funeral for His Majesty Taufa’ahua Tupou IV King of Tonga and said he was looking forward to renewing contact with the Tongan people.

While in Tonga, Their Excellencies will visit HMAS BALLARAT which will be stationed at Queen Salote Wharf. Their Excellencies will have lunch with the crew and the Governor-General has been invited to present commendations to members of the ship’s company.

They will return via Papua New Guinea where Their Excellencies will meet the Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, GCMG CH KStJ.

General Jeffery will officially open the refurbished Hohola Youth Development Centre, a self-funded school, run by the De La Salle Brothers, which has more than 300 students. The Centre provides an education and a safe haven for students from poor backgrounds. The Centre aims to provide a broad-based education as well as more specific vocational training to give students the skills, practices and attitudes which will enable them to gain and retain employment. AusAID, through the Australia PNG Incentive Fund, has provided a grant of PGK3.7 million to enable the school to construct and refurbish the classrooms and administrative buildings at the school, including the vocational training facilities.

The Governor-General will also meet current and past Commanders of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

Their Excellencies will depart Australia on 30 July and return on 5 August. The Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, will perform the duties of Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia during the Governor-General’s absence.


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