Admiralty House, 13 October 2025

I have the great joy of being up front and being able to deliver remarks, but it is seriously the team that makes you so welcome. I want to thank them ahead of time, because you'll be experiencing their great care for the rest of the evening. I also acknowledge the Cammeraygal People, the traditional custodians of this exquisite land that we are on tonight, I acknowledge their Elders, past and present, and any other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are here with us this evening.  

I wanted just to say before I get to the very important guests tonight, that you’re in a room that when we acknowledge Country, we're trying to do that also through the art and the artifacts we now have in the house. I know that Dame Quentin did that when she was Governor-General. To my left is a magnificent work by Ray Ken of the APY lands. To my right is a beautiful piece by the late Mrs. Yunupingu that depicts the Sydney Harbour Bridge, that she painted from her hotel when she sat across in the Rocks and looked at the Harbour Bridge. It’s in conversation with a painting of the bridge, also from the Rocks, as it was being constructed.  

I hope that you wander around and see more of the art in the house. You were welcomed by a wonderful, magnificent painting by Paddy Bedford, celebrated Noongar elder and painter, as you came in and signed the visitor's book. He was a great favorite of one of my other predecessors, and that was Sir William Deane. You'll find the way we're trying to tell the story of Australia through all of this. It's 65,000 years to the modern time through the arts and artifacts. And we'll continue to do that all over, wherever the Governor-General finds herself.  

And you'll see that here and in Canberra when you come to visit. Of course, I'd like to start by acknowledging the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD, it's such a joy to welcome you back to Admiralty House, a place that you and your family know so well. I've been chatting to members of the family, including your grandchildren, about how the house feels coming back as big grown-up adults having been very little children, and how special it is to have you here.  

You were here in November last year to celebrate the 40th birthday of the Australian Girls Choir and the anniversary of your creation, together with the team, of the Girls From Oz choir. And one of my favorite memories of that was the Girls From Oz in particular, out on the lawn seeing Sydney Harbour for the very first time. They were freezing cold, as we might be tonight (quite chilly out there), but they were running around the ground, and they spoke so joyously. It was a beautiful evening from all of the choir girls, but also Girls From Oz. And then two nights later, we sat together side by side in the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House to see the 40th anniversary of the Girls Choir, and saw the spectacle of what can happen when we back young women in this country, but particularly through music. And for those of you who don't know, the Girls From Oz is a choir of young women from very remote communities including Lockhart River and Horse Creek in East Kimberley. Dame Quentin has been a dear friend of those communities for so very, very long. There's a very important chapter in the book. I've read every page, every photo in this book. It's magnificent, but there's a very important chapter in the biography, chapter 13, which explores your deep relationship with Aboriginal communities and people, particularly women, starting as early as 1978 when you first met Connie bush.  

I want to acknowledge all of your family. Diane, your sister, Revy your daughter, Tom, your son, Claudia and Alexandra, granddaughters, partners, everyone that is here tonight as a part of the family. I'm sorry if I've missed anyone out. Juliet Rieden: you are a very special guest here tonight. Author of this book, in collaboration with Dame Quentin.  

It is an authorized biography, and these works only manifest when there's a very special relationship between the subject and the writer. I know this has been a long and beautiful journey, probably with some ups and downs, to produce such a beautiful work. It has Dame Quentin's voice and your voice.  

It tells us a remarkable story of a remarkable life. There are so many guests here I could acknowledge, such as the vast array of people that Dame Quentin has invited. I do want to mention just a few. I could move around the room and acknowledge every single one of you.

Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove, of course, former Governor-General, as we have three governors-general here, I'm not sure what the collective noun is for the three of us.  

It's wonderful to welcome Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove back here, and I've seen you several times recently. It's always wonderful to have you back here. Two former Queensland premiers, Anna Bligh and Peter Beattie are both here, of course, part of your life when you were Governor of Queensland. Elizabeth Everett – a very important part of our human rights history in this country. It's wonderful to see you here, Elizabeth. I'm conscious that Jane Dawson and Sandy Dawson are here. There is a such an important story there that links to a tragedy, but then to the joy of Women’s College and the work that Quentin has always done in elevating women and it's wonderful to have you here. Belinda Clark, this is when we start getting a sense of the very broad range of things that have been important in Dame Quentin's life. But Belinda Clark, former captain of the Australian women's cricket team, and we were checking on the score overnight to make sure we both knew it so we could speak properly with you, Dame Quentin, because we knew that you would know.  

Cressida Campbell, I'm going to mention because I just took Cressida into the study to see one of her works that is now hanging there. And there's a big story about Cressida Campbell, which I'll come to in a moment, and the art of Cressida and the artists that Cressida represents and is part of in Dame Quentin's life. Natasha Stott Despoja, who has travelled from South Australia. It's wonderful to have you here. Natasha, an extraordinary life, another woman of firsts, along with Dame Quentin, it's wonderful to have you here.  

Sonia King, there you are. You're sitting next to Paul Singer. So actually, that's as it should be, I think. And with Lynette Mace, I was going to mention all three of you. Sonia King, you'll know if you read the book that Sonia was the aide-de-camp who first accompanied Dame Quentin from Brisbane to Canberra to take on the role of Governor-General, and then was there to take her home to Queensland together with Michael. I think that's right. Dame Quentin tells me that's right.

Paul's was an Official Secretary here a long time, and worked in the team here with Dame Quentin. And I want to mention Lynette Mace. Lynette is described by Dame Quentin in the book as the member of staff during her term here as Governor-General that she was closest to throughout her term. And when you read the book, you'll see why Lynette's role was so pivotal and important to Dame Quentin. And as you ask Dame Quentin later, you might find that she was back being a very important person this evening to help before we started this evening. Lynette is, of course, still with the team here, 20 years later, and serves me and the team here. And it's wonderful that Lynette is here as a guest and not organizing, that she's being celebrated and they're celebrating the book. I could go on but I won't. I will say that in honor of Dame Quentin, she's wearing Carla Zampatti, and there's a chapter on fashion and icons and of course, Carla Zampatti features very heavily there. Wendy McCarthy is here, and I'm sure Wendy is also wearing Carla. Wendy, I invested with the Companion of the Order of Australian insignia just three weeks ago in Canberra. She was awarded that honor in the most recent honors list. So this story continues. So congratulations, Wendy. It was wonderful to invest you with the insignia. But I'm raising this in the context of Carla, because we have two of Carla’s children here. Alex Schuman is here, and I think Bianca is here as well. Normally I would be wearing Bianca Spender, because I often wear Bianca's work or the Social Outfit. But tonight, I'm wearing vintage colors. I think my jacket is 20 or 25 years old. I kept all of my color. So tonight, out came color.  

You are all so very, very welcome, your distinguished guests, your friends. You are the handpicked group that Dame Quentin wanted to have here on the eve of the launch of her splendid book. It's an exclusive pre-launch. You're in the vivid presence of Dame Quentin tonight. I think she is such a vivid person, and she's brought you together for the purpose of tonight, and we can see the roles you've all played over her life, her extraordinary life as your dear friend Professor Marcia Langton says, Dame Quentin, “Quentin's unstoppable.” That just about sums it up.  

I'd like to say there is a tinge of sadness, in this moment in that there is one person who's not here, and that is the person who was most to you over the course of your life. And that's Michael, of course. And I'm sure he's here with us in spirit. He always is. And his impact was felt through your term, through your life, and we often feel him here. So I'm conscious that there’s a sadness to that. He comes through the book in such beautiful ways. His voice is there. His diary is used a lot to talk about Quentin at various stages of her life and their life together.  

Now, before I was sworn in as your Governor-General, I did visit all of the former living governors-general. I met Sir Peter. I visited Dame Quentin in Brisbane to hear her unique insights of the time in office. And the chapter, of course, of making history is about this time in these places. Of course, it's not totally defining. There's so much more in the book about your life, Dame Quentin, you shared with me the need for this role to balance tradition with modernity. You said to be mindful always of the former, but using the privilege of serving this office to constantly explore the latter, having the office be modern and accessible and available to the Australian public.

I did call on all of those governors-general, I learned much from Sir Peter, and continue to do that, but the opportunity to hear from Dame Quentin, it was a unique experience as the first woman to hold this office. You were exceptional in taking on the role as the first woman to hold this office, you gave me many vice-regal tips, but you had many other pieces of advice for me, which I have used regularly, given my role, because for there to be a successful second, there has to have always been a brave, courageous and exemplary first, and that is and always will be you, Dame Quentin, for the first woman to hold this role, your wisdom, your style, your grace, everything about you, and it is captured in the book so beautifully.  

The same would hold true for any of you that had Dame Quentin involved in your life at any stage of your career, in any part of the country. You will understand what I came to learn: how exceptionally generous she is in offering support and guidance as we forge our futures. She offered that to me before being sworn in, and I know it's there for me whenever I meet her, or at the end of a telephone call, and I owe her, as I think everyone in this room and so many people around the country, a debt of gratitude, not only in your pioneering and compassionate leadership, but throughout your lifetime as a champion of gender equality, where you invested your energy, your intellect, your time, into a community of women advocating for change and equality, wherever you've been, wherever you go, you've left the door open for those to come and follow and be lifted by you.  

Often, you've worked tirelessly, sometimes against your own interest, and also with others to open or push things open for the very first time, and, so often the first, Dame Quentin has devoted her life to making sure she is never the last, that there will always be a long line of those that benefit from your leadership and having a door. You've also been there for many other vital firsts in this country. Chapter 14 opens with a quote from our first woman prime minister who was clear about the fact that her swearing in was made exceptionally special because the first woman prime minister was being sworn in by our first woman governor-general, she talks about it as one of the most powerful moments in our history. And she's right.  

I'm delighted to let you know that earlier this week, last Monday, actually, I was at Macquarie University to read the citation for the investiture of Julia Gillard as an honorary Doctor of Letters at Macquarie University. And it was a great thrill to read her citation. But of course, she reflected on the role that you played in her life and that moment of history that we all enjoyed so very much. And the book is absolutely splendid. I want to congratulate you both.  

For me, there were three important insights. The first is a reminder that the landscape of a lifetime is both panoramic, but there is meaning in each detail, in every fine grain, the turning points and u-turns of a long and rich life are in the stories, in the book, in language of gentle beauty punctuated with intimate insights and anecdotes, all of them so wonderful to read and understand. It was a wonder to come to understand the slow accretion of wisdom and experience that began for Dame Quentin as a young tutor in the law school at the University of Queensland, led you to the National Women's Advisory Council, your appointment as federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, as Principal of the Women's College at the University of Sydney, as Governor of Queensland, as Australia's Governor-General. And in all that has happened along the way and has come since, it hasn't stopped.  

Threaded through all of this is, of course, the beauty of family, of parents, sisters, of a loved husband who described your marriage as totally without blemishes, his voice captured from his diary. The entries are full of such tenderness, love, commitment and pride in you, in your children and grandchildren, of births and deaths, of love, joy and longing.  

The second insight that emerges from Juliet's description of Dame Quentin is not just dauntlessness in the face of opposition to her goals or obstacles in her path, but devoted loyalty and her encouragement of others facing hurdles of their own in the face of lazy misogyny, when personal tragedy strikes under professional disappointment, as your dear friend Sister Angela Mary Doyle says, ‘inside all that she's just Quentin. She doesn't keep to herself in any way. She's always available.’ There's so much power in that phrase giving shape to a lifetime of advocacy and involvement and determination. In your words, Dame Quentin, never to label and dismiss, but to always be available.  

Everyone in this room knows that, has felt that, and we speak about that at length, I'm sure. Finally, Dame Quentin, what Juliet conveys so convincingly is your consummate ability, wherever you have lived and worked, to find your tribe.  

In Marcia Langton’s words, you do this by being open, curious and concerned. From the fun, creativity and bookishness of the Strachan house at Ilfracombe, to the first dreams of the future at Morton Bay College; from teaching at the University of Queensland, alongside Margaret White, later, the first woman to be appointed as judge in the Supreme Court of Queensland, and Patsy Wolfe, the first woman to be appointed Chief Judge of the District Court of Queensland.  

The young families of St Lucia, where the challenge of finding a balance between work and family – and with a baby every two years between 1966 and 1973, it was an urgent project! – was made lighter by the fun and friendship of community. Within those tribes is a litany of formidable names. Women who have stood alongside Quentin in defence of women's rights, children's rights, of human rights: Hazel Hawk, Connie Bush, Ann Sherry, Wendy McCarthy – who you lived with here. I love the story of you living together, playing together with your children, taking care of each other, cooking for one another. There's a beauty in the story there That's so touching. Evelyn Scott, Susan Ryan, Anne Summers, and that list could go on.  

And of course, it's not just limited to women. You have also taken care of so many men, young men, older men. You're there for everybody. Then there are those whose names we will never know.  

We will never know the students you encouraged, the women who found their life choices affirmed in your example, the disaster-affected communities nurtured by your gentle, caring presence, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people uplifted by your clear-eyed and deep concern for the First Nations people of this country through letters, endless letters. If you've read Dame Quentin's first book about her letters, conversations and gatherings of every kind, you have drawn people to you and bound them there in a spirit of care, kindness and respect. Their numbers are myriad, and they carry you in their hearts, as do all of us here today. I wanted to link some of them tonight, just very briefly. Philip Bacon. Philip, I commented when you arrived, and I want to say something about you. You were important for Quentin to talk about art and how painters and paintings can move us during the course of our lives. Painters like Bill Robinson, whose very recent passing was terribly sad, and whose ‘Springbrook with Lifting Fog’ sat behind you in the Chancery of Government House at your time as Governor-General. This evening, I want you to wander around the house. I see people come into the study and first see Cressida Campbell, but also Aboriginal young people who see the paintings from their country beside Cressida's paintings, and they're drawn to that work. But you have had art and artists in your life. You've taken us all on an extraordinary journey where art sits at the core of who you are, gives you a sense of place. In tribute to you, I have ensured that the splendid and remarkable painting that was done of you as you left Government House and left the office of Governor-General, is now hanging back in the state entrance at Government House. It has you in all your glory. It captures everything about your time as Governor-General, but everything that came before. It's a beautiful portrait, and it faces into the crowd as they walk into Government House in Canberra. I'd encourage you all, when you come you'll see that painting back in Government House, there's a tribute to the first woman to hold the role that I have the great privilege to hold. So tonight, I'm so proud to celebrate you, to celebrate you and Juliet's work: the girl, the activist, the advocate from Queensland, Australia's vice-regal representative, and now simply and eloquently, as always, Dame Quentin.

I'm so delighted you could join us tonight. Thank you for sharing your life with Juliet and then now with all of us with such generous openness throughout the book, you've given Australians a chance to know, once again, your warmth and optimism and all that you've done for our country. I want you to know just how much pleasure it gave me to hang your portrait back in Government House. I think Ralph Heimans has caught you in a particular moment of duty and service, and your painting from Bill Robinson is in the background. So it's all there. Thank you for trusting us with tonight in the lead-up to what will be a very important book tour, the book will be so widely read, I'll be buying many, many copies, and I'll certainly be ensuring that your book is here at Admiralty House and at Government House as part of the Australian collection that we're trying to build to encourage everyone to read about great Australians. Congratulations and thank you so much for joining us tonight.