Departure for State Visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Original Office of the Australian Embassy plaque unveiling; Reception with Australian and Vietnamese Business Representatives and Australian Volunteers and Scholarship Recipients

On Sunday 8 May 2011, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE departed Australia on a State Visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

On Saturday 7 May 2011, at TIO Stadium, Darwin, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, as guests of the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, the Honourable Paul Henderson MLA, attended the official reception and opening ceremony of the 2011 Arafura Games, at which the Governor-General officially opened the Arafura Games.

On Friday 6 May 2011, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, hosted a morning tea at which the Governor-General presented the 2011 Charles Hawker scholarships.

In the afternoon, the Governor-General received the Deputy Secretary and Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ms Gillian Bird.

Earlier, at Telstra Tower, Canberra, Mr Bryce, as Ambassador, officially launched the CAPITheticAL competition.

On Thursday 5 May 2011, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC hosted a morning tea in recognition of International Midwives Day.

Afterwards, the Governor-General hosted a lunch for the Australian Bravery Decorations Council. Guests included: Major General Peter Arnison AC CVO (Retd); Mr David Blenheim; Commissioner Mark Crosweller AFSM; Mr William Denny AM; Dr Penelope Flett; Ms Alison Fraser; Mr Robert Kennedy; Ms Christine Nixon APM; Ms Sue Renkin; Mr Gavin Rossetti; Mr Peter Rush; Mr Peter Sharp; Mr John Trevillian AM; and Mr Patrick Vidgen.

On Wednesday 4 May 2011, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC received the High Commissioner-designate to the Solomon Islands, Mr Matthew Anderson PSM.

Earlier, at Brisbane International Airport, the Governor-General was represented at the departure from Australia of the Governor-General of the Solomon Islands, His Excellency Sir Frank Ofagioro Kabui CSI GCMG OBE, by Colonel Denis Scanlan CSM RFD ADC, an Honorary Aide-de-Camp.

On Tuesday 3 May 2011, at Brisbane International Airport, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC was represented at the arrival in Australia of the Governor-General of the Solomon Islands, His Excellency Sir Frank Ofagioro Kabui CSI CGMG OBE, by Commander Lachlan King ADC RAN, an Honorary Aide-de-Camp.

On Monday 2 May 2011, at Government House, Sydney, the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, received from Saudi Aramco: Senior Vice-President of Industrial Relations, Mr Abdulaziz Al Khayyal; Head of Asia Pacific Affairs, Mr Yaqoub Al Dossary; and Country Representative (Australia and New Zealand), Dr Antonio Curulli.

On Sunday 1 May 2011, at the Great Hall, University of Sydney, the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, as Patron of Sydney University Graduate Choir, attended ‘Romantik Meets Klassik’.

On Saturday 30 April 2011, at Glenroy, New South Wales, the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, and Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE, as guests of the National Trust of Australia (NSW), attended a service to celebrate the restoration and State Heritage Listing of the 1831 grave of Eliza Rodd.

Afterwards, the Administrator delivered an address on Governor Lachlan Macquarie during a visit to the Military Station established by Governor Macquarie at Cox’s Lett River Crossing, Glenroy.

On Friday 29 April 2011, at Government House, Sydney, the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, and Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE hosted a reception for School Captains from Government Secondary Schools.

Afterwards, the Administrator and Sir Nicholas hosted a ceremony at which the Administrator, as Patron, invested Lord May of Oxford with the Fellowship of the Royal Society of New South Wales.