On Saturday 17 November 2012, at the Dallas Brooks Centre, Melbourne, Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, as Patron, officially opened the 3rd Males Choirs Festival.
Earlier, at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, the Governor-General was represented at the transit through Australia of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, by Captain Frank Kresse ADC RANR, Honorary Aide-de-Camp.
On Friday 16 November 2012, in Redcliffe, Queensland, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, as guest of the Chief Executive Officer of Uniting Care Queensland, Ms Anne Cross, officially opened Blue Care’s Azure Blue residential living facility.
Afterwards, at Philip Bacon Galleries, Fortitude Valley, the Governor-General, as guest of Mr Philip Bacon AM, viewed the Peter Anderson exhibition.
At Government House, the Governor-General, as Patron, presented citations for supporters of the Snowy Hydro Southcare helicopter rescue service.
The citations were presented to long term volunteers who have worked for 10 years or more to maintain the helicopter rescue service, which provides rescue and transport for injured and ill people in the South East of New South Wales. The event recognised retiring Board Members, Mr Garry Sykes and Mr Glenn Keys, and Dr Simon Robertson.
On Thursday 15 November 2012, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, as Chief Ambassador of the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Rescue Helicopter Fund, hosted a morning tea and presented awards in recognition of outstanding service.
Afterwards, the Governor-General received the High Commissioner-designate to the Republic of Ghana, Ms Joanna Adamson.
The Governor-General hosted an event at Government House, Canberra, for the 2012 overseas course members attending the Australian Defence College.
On Wednesday 14 November 2012, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, as Patron, received the State Commissioner of the ACT Girls’ Brigade, Ms Marian Ashford, and Queen’s Award Coordinator, Ms Melissa Moglia. The Governor-General also presented the Queen’s Award to Ms Sarah Ratcliffe and Ms Alison Ratcliffe who were accompanied by Mr Christopher Ratcliffe, Ms Rebecca Rowe and Ms Jeanette Estreich.
On Tuesday 13 November 2012, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, received the Ambassador-designate to the United Mexican States, Mr Tim George.
Afterwards, the Governor-General received the High Commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom, Mr Michael Rann.
Later, the Governor-General received the Ambassador-designate to the Republic of Ireland, Ms Ruth Adler.
At the National Library in Canberra, the Governor-General marked the end of the National Year of Reading.
Ms Bryce was joined at the event by the Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Simon Crean MP, the Director-General of the NLA, Ms Anne-Marie Schwirtlich, representatives from State Libraries, authors and supporters of the year-long initiative that aimed to promote a reading culture in every home and set a goal for families and carers to share books with children every day.
Due to the success of the year, the initiative will continue after 2012 as ‘Love2Read’.
On Monday 12 November 2012, at the National Library, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO as guest of the Chair of the National Year of Reading Founding Partners, Ms Margaret Allen, delivered an address at a forum in recognition of the 2012 National Year of Reading.
Earlier, at Civic Square, Canberra, Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, as guest of ACT State Emergency Service Chief Officer, Mr Tony Graham, and in recognition of National State Emergency Service Week, delivered an address at the ACT State Emergency Service Breakfast.
The Governor-General and Mr Michael Bryce joined Australian Defence Force personnel, their families and members of the public for the Remembrance Day National Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Ms Bryce laid a wreath on the Stone of Remembrance and a sprig of wattle on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, before joining the Chairman of the Council of the AWM, Read Admiral Ken Doolan AO RAN (Ret’d), and Prime Minister, the Hon. Julia Gillard MP, at the Roll of Honour within the Memorial.
