Speeches
Friday, 22 May 2026
Lions Australian 2026 National Convention
I am pleased to be here today to officially open the 74th Lions Australia National Convention.
This gathering brings together some of the most dedicated volunteers in this country, as well as guests from as far afield as Indonesia and New Zealand.
To the hundreds of Lions members, district leaders, Leos, and friends of Lions who have travelled to Adelaide from across Australia and beyond: welcome to South Australia.
As Honorary Member of the Lions Club of the City of Adelaide — the oldest club in South Australia, chartered here in 1961 — Lions has made a strong impression on me as Governor.
Each year it is my privilege to present the Children of Courage awards, recognising the resilience of young South Australians with disability, and the deep sense of community that Lions nurtures around them.
It’s been an honour to invest several Lions members with Medals in the Order of Australia, recognition that reflects their exceptional service and dedication to others.
And yesterday I accompanied my husband Rod, patron of Lions Assistance Dogs, at a sod-turning ceremony for the new South Australian Lions Assistance Dogs training centre, a $16 million investment in the lives of Australians living with disability.
Lions in Australia has been serving communities since 1947, when the Lismore Lions Club became the first chartered club in the nation.
In the decades since, Lions has grown into one of Australia's largest volunteer service networks, delivering hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours each year and contributing millions of dollars to causes including youth development, health programs, disaster relief, and support for vulnerable Australians.
As Governor, I travel widely across South Australia, and I am deeply encouraged by what I see Lions doing in both metropolitan and regional communities.
I have seen up close how clubs come together to fundraise to improve community emergency preparedness and how they support communities impacted by natural disasters.
I have also seen that service clubs are genuinely integral to bringing the broader community along with them, to raise funds for services and infrastructure that are needed locally.
I was pleased to learn that this convention is open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday, supporting families, community groups, and supporters who want to understand what Lions does.
I believe that when people see what is done, for example when they stand alongside a Lions volunteer, or know someone who serves, it has a profound impact on their own willingness to become involved.
Openness is a defining aspect of Lions' long-term relevance and vitality.
This year's theme, ‘Inspire Service: 2026 and Beyond’, speaks directly to that challenge, and the opportunity to carry forward a proud legacy while forging new opportunities for the next generation of volunteers and leaders.
I thank the Lions leadership for organising this convention with such care and ambition, and I thank the keynote speakers and workshop facilitators who will share their expertise across the days ahead.
To every delegate gathered here: may your conversations be rich, your resolutions bold, and your fellowship, as it has always been, a source of strength for communities right across this country.
It is my pleasure to declare the 74th Lions Australia National Convention officially open.