On Friday 21 November 2008, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC, as Patron of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Australia, and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, hosted a reception at which the Governor-General presented the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award to Australian Capital Territory recipients.

On Thursday 20 November 2008, on board HMAS MANOORA alongside Geraldton wharf, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, as guests of the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane AM CSM RAN, met with families of those who lost their lives aboard HMAS SYDNEY II on 19 November 1941.

On Wednesday 19 November 2008, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE returned to Australia on completion of a State Visit to the Republic of Singapore.

In the evening, at Geraldton, Western Australia, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce attended a sunset ceremony commemorating the loss of HMAS SYDNEY II, at which the Governor-General delivered an address and, together with Mr Bryce, laid a wreath in honour of those who lost their life.

On Tuesday 18 November 2008, at the Sydney Convention Centre, the Administrator, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, officially opened the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia's Annual Scientific Meeting.

On Monday 17 November 2008, at the Istana, Singapore, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE were received by the President of the Republic of Singapore, His Excellency Mr Sellapan Rama Nathan and Mrs Nathan.

On Saturday 15 November 2008, at Government House, Sydney, the Administrator, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO and Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE hosted a reception for participants of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program, at which the Administrator presented Gold Award Certificates.

On Friday 14 November 2008, at Government House, Sydney, the Administrator, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

On Thursday 13 November 2008, at the Royal Rehabilitation Centre, Ryde, the Administrator, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, as Patron, attended a morning tea to mark the work of the New South Wales Developmental Disability Health Unit.

On Wednesday 12 November 2008, at The Justice & Police Museum, Sydney, the Administrator, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, as Patron, presented Benefactor Awards on behalf of The Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research.

On Tuesday 11 November 2008, at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, the Administrator, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO and Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE attended the 2008 Remembrance Day Ceremony, at which the Administrator and Sir Nicholas laid a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance, laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and afterwards met with the families of those Servicemen whose names have recently been added to the Roll of Honour.