The Governor-General and Mr Michael Bryce welcomed Australians of the Year – past and present – at Government House in Canberra.

This year’s finalists joined previous winners of the prestigious award, on the eve of the announcement of the 2012 Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, Australia's Local Hero,and Australian of the Year by the Prime Minister, the Hon. Julia Gillard MP.

On Monday 23 January 2012, at Brisbane International Airport, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO was represented at the departure from Australia of the President of the Republic of Nauru, His Excellency the Honourable Sprent Dabwido MP, by Colonel Dennis Scanlan CSM RFD ADC, an Honorary Aide-de-Camp.

On Sunday 22 January 2012, at North Sydney Oval, Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, as guest of the Advisor to Cricket Australia’s ‘Females in Cricket’ Reference Group, Ms Rina Hore, attended the Australian Southern Stars versus New Zealand White Ferns cricket match.

Later, at Brisbane International Airport, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO was represented at the arrival in Australia of the President of the Republic of Nauru, His Excellency the Honourable Sprent Dabwido MP, by Group Captain Guy Burton CSC ADC, an Honorary Aide-de-Camp.

On Thursday 19 January 2012, at Admiralty House, Sydney, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, hosted a morning tea in support of women’s cricket for the Southern Stars, White Ferns and in2CRICKET program participants.

On the eve of the Women's T20 International cricket competition, the Governor-General and Mr Michael Bryce met Australian Southern Stars and New Zealand White Ferns team members at Admiralty House, Sydney.

Ms Bryce and the cricketers were also joined by young girls involved in the in2CRICKET development program.

The young cricketers took the opportunity to play a short game on a freshly mowed pitch on the lawn of the historic residence.

On Wednesday 18 January 2012, at Admiralty House, Sydney, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, received Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Australia, Ms Ann Sherry AO.

In the evening, at Sydney International Airport, the Governor-General was represented at the departure from Australia of the President of the Republic of Vanuatu, His Excellency Mr Iolu Johnson Abbil, by Brigadier Allan Murray CSM ADC, an Honorary Aide-de-Camp.

On Tuesday 17 January 2012, at the Sydney Opera House, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, as guest of the Chief Executive of Opera Australia, Mr Adrian Collette AM, attended the opening night performance of ‘Turandot’.

Earlier, at Admiralty House, Mr Michael Bryce AM AE received the Fine Art Advisor from The Australiana Fund, Ms Sonya Abbey.

On Thursday 12 January 2012, at Brisbane International Airport, the Governor-General was represented at the departure from Australia of the President of the Republic of Nauru, His Excellency the Honourable Sprent Dabwido MP, by Group Captain Guy Burton CSC ADC, an Honorary Aide-de-Camp.

Afterwards, at Admiralty House, Sydney, Mr Michael Bryce AM AE received the Managing Director of Good Design Australia, Mr Brandon Gien.

On Wednesday 11 January 2012, at Brisbane International Airport, the Governor-General was represented at the arrival in Australia of the President of the Republic of Nauru, His Excellency the Honourable Sprent Dabwido MP, by Group Captain Brian Duddington AM ADC, an Honorary Aide-de-Camp.

On Tuesday 10 January 2012, at the Lake Apex Parkland, Gatton, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, as guests of the Mayor of the Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Councillor Steve Jones, attended the Lockyer Valley Regional Council First Anniversary Commemorative Service. During the service the Governor-General delivered an address and read a message on behalf of the His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge.

Afterwards, at the Gatton Shire Hall, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce, as guests of Councillor Jones, attended a lunch.