Governor of Queensland receives warm welcome to Goondiwindi Region

The Governor of Queensland received a warm welcome to the Goondiwindi Region on Monday, with Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young PSM visiting residents in Inglewood and Texas.

The Governor met with local businesses, emergency services and community groups, toured both the Inglewood and Texas Hospitals, and also visited the Texas State School. 

The day included a local meet and greet at an Inglewood café and a community afternoon tea at the Texas Memorial Hall. Her Excellency also met with Goondiwindi Regional Council councillors and the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM, Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region, to hear about recent developments and innovations in the region.

In Inglewood, Her Excellency heard first-hand from community members about the continuing clean-up and recovery efforts after the November-December 2021 flood event, in which the Macintyre Brook peaked at 11.20 metres at Inglewood Bridge and inundated the town.

She also thanked local emergency services, Council staff and all those involved in the town’s flood response for their outstanding efforts during the disaster and in the recovery. Her Excellency described the overnight evacuation of more than 800 residents as harrowing, but praised the preparedness and quick response of residents, successful with no lives lost.

“This is clearly a community where people band together to help each other in times of need,” she said. “With about 50% of the state’s population living outside of the big cities, there’s so much happening in regional Queensland and I very much enjoy seeing the part the Goondiwindi Region plays in that.”

The Mayor also showed Her Excellency around the new Evacuation Assembly Point at the Inglewood Waste Transfer and Recycling Facility.

Her Excellency then toured both the Inglewood and Texas Hospitals, where she was welcomed by Inglewood Acting Director of Nursing (DON) Janet Reid, Texas DON Carina Mayers and Representative for Darling Downs Health Service Board Mrs Marie Pietsch.

The Governor thanked local healthcare staff for their commitment and ongoing dedication to the community. The tours of Inglewood and Texas hospitals formed part of the Governor’s pledge to visit every public hospital in the state, following her prior role as the Chief Health Officer of Queensland.

At the Texas State School, year 9 and 10 students welcomed Her Excellency for a question and answer session, in which students heard about the day-to-day duties of the Governor of Queensland and asked advice for young people trying to figure out what they want to be when they’re older. (The answer? “Take every opportunity that comes your way.”)

Her Excellency and her husband, Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD read her book, A Place for All Queenslanders, to the Prep class and younger students, and also gifted a copy of the book to the school’s library. The children were invited to visit Government House – and maybe even enjoy some lamingtons, just like in the story.

Her Excellency also met with School Principal Ms Sue Hendricks, Assistant Regional Director Mr Jonathan Druce, and Parents and Citizens Association President Mr Greg Finlay, to understand the impact that border closures had on the local community in recent years.

It was Her Excellency’s first tour of the Goondiwindi Region since she was sworn into the role in November. Two earlier scheduled visits were postponed due to flooding and COVID-19.

Cr Springborg said it was an honour to welcome the Governor to the region.

“It’s been a difficult few years for many with COVID-19, border issues and recent flood events, and this visit has highlighted the tireless commitment of a very long list of people who give their all to assisting the community,” he said.

“It was a privilege to welcome the Governor to our region to visit Inglewood and Texas. I thank Her Excellency for being so generous with her time and making an effort to meet with as many community members as possible. We look forward to hosting her on a similar visit to Goondiwindi soon.”