Speeches
Saturday, 21 October 2023
Cystic Fibrosis Remembrance Ceremony
Rod and I are honoured to welcome you all to Government House this morning, a place where we want all South Australians to feel welcome.
It is a privilege for us to continue the tradition of his annual event, which was first held in these grounds six years ago.
Today, we remember your sons and daughters, friends and partners, husbands and wives – people whom cystic fibrosis has taken from us far too soon.
We celebrate how they lived their lives with courage, strength, and resilience.
And we honour the joy they brought to your lives in the time they were here.
‘Time heals’ is a common phrase of condolence, but perhaps it is more accurate to say that one’s grief becomes less raw over time, and one find ways to cope with the feelings of loss.
The only constant is our love for the people who will forever live on in our hearts and minds.
Bravery has many faces and the people we honour today faced life with the courage and strength to fight for life every day.
Let us live their legacy of courage, strength, and resilience in the belief that tomorrow will be better than today.
The cystic fibrosis community has celebrated some key milestones over the past two years.
First with the inclusion of Trikafta on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and then, the extension of Trikafta’s PBS listing to include children from six years old.
In celebrating these breakthroughs, I acknowledge that not everyone will be eligible, and not every patient will respond to it, but we should be thankful for every one who does.
I thank Cystic Fibrosis South Australia for organising today’s ceremony, and for its support for people and families impacted by CF for more than 50 years.
Your work in advancing outcomes, increasing access to treatments, and improving clinical practice has, and will continue, to change the expectations and life journey for people living with CF.
I also thank the Adelaide University Medical Orchestra (AUMO) Choir for their uplifting performance.
I trust that today’s ceremony will bring comfort and peace, as we envision a future where cystic fibrosis no longer defines or limits lives.