Speeches
Monday, 06 December 2021
Reception for Year 12s under guardianship of the Chief Executive
I warmly welcome you all to Government House.
To begin, let me say a big congratulations on finishing Year 12.
Not only have you completed the most difficult year of school, but you have done it in the face of other challenges, both personal ones and those affecting the whole community, such as the pandemic.
Your success shows us all that you are resilient and have the ability to embrace uncertainty and change.
These are excellent skills and will stand you in good stead in life.
The final year of high school is an important milestone; one that will be a springboard to the next phase.
Let me assure you, or perhaps reassure you; there will be many more milestones and phases from here.
Some of you may have a strong idea of what’s next, others may still be mulling over where life may take you.
I must admit that when I was your age, I didn’t have a firm idea of what I wanted to do.
I knew I wanted to go to university, and I began studying economics, because I thought it sounded interesting, and law, as I thought it would give me a good all-round education.
I soon decided that law wasn’t for me, and let that go.
After finishing my economics degree I went to Canberra to join the Department of Foreign Affairs, and this led me to a long career as a diplomat, representing Australia’s interests all over the world.
Now, I have the wonderful honour of being Governor, the Head of State in South Australia.
My point is: back in high school I would never have dreamed all this could happen.
I share my story so you can see that no-one knows exactly where life will take them.
But with hard work, enthusiasm and passion for what you do, it is possible to achieve great things.
Whatever your next steps, I encourage you to do what you love, do it to the best of your ability and put your heart into it.
I also encourage you to look for ways to be of service to other people: there is great pleasure and fulfilment in helping others.
Congratulations once again. I am very proud of all of you, and wish you all the best for the future.
Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC
GOVERNOR OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA