On Sunday 11 August 2019, Their Excellencies, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Mrs Linda Hurley, as guests of Reverend Dr Ben Edwards, Rector, attended a service at St Paul's Manuka and planted an oak tree to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the opening of the church.

Afterwards, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley hosted the Canberra Symphony Orchestra for a performance of the Schubert Octet.