Speeches
Monday, 12 May 2025
Reception to present the 2025 Charles Hawker Scholarships
I warmly welcome you all to Government House.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Charles Allan Seymour Hawker scholarships.
Your selection for this prestigious scholarship demonstrates your potential as a future leader, your commitment to furthering your education and your potential contributions to the wider community.
In this way, you are walking in the footsteps of Charles Hawker, a remarkable Australian.
Hawker was a respected pastoral pioneer, a World War I veteran, distinguished scholar, and leading Federal Parliamentarian.
The scholarships were established by his sister, the late Mrs Lillias Needham, to honour his legacy of service and leadership.
As Governor it is my privilege, with Rod, to visit schools across the state and to engage with students from all backgrounds and walks of life.
These visits have reinforced my belief that education has the power to change lives, break the cycle of disadvantage and support young people to reach their potential.
Since 1990, the Scholarship Trust Fund has awarded more than $7 million to 144 young Australians, empowering them to undertake their studies of choice and pursue work that will create a positive, meaningful impact in our community.
A significant number of alumni work in locations across the world, and several have subsequently been offered Rhodes Scholarships.
I trust that Mrs Needham would be very proud of the contribution these awards have made, and continue making, to young leaders in our community.
As a career diplomat I am pleased to see this year’s recipients aspiring to roles in international relations, diplomacy, public policy and even politics.
It is rewarding work and, at a time of increasing global complexity and challenge, we need talented and dedicated young people moving into public service and elected office.
As Governor it is also my priority to spend time in South Australia’s regional and remote areas, including the APY Lands, and engage with local communities.
I am heartened by our recipients who have expressed a desire to work in service of these communities, through medicine and agriculture.
In addition, let me speak briefly about the value of a residential college experience – though not my own.
Three of my now adult children were college residents while studying at university: Matthew and Sophie at Burgmann College at ANU, and Katherine at Lincoln College in Adelaide.
They enjoyed the friendships and academic support of their fellow students and as parents we were grateful - as many other parents are - to know they were living in a caring environment.
Friends,
I thank the Trustees and Administrators of the scholarships for their dedication to their work, the universities which educate our recipients, and the colleges which host them while they’re studying.
Congratulations once again to our recipients.
I wish you the very best for your studies and future careers, and I look forward to following your progress as young leaders of our state and nation.