Speeches

Friday, 02 October 2026

Rose Planting Ceremony

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Rod and I are pleased to welcome you all to the Government House rose garden this morning, during South Australia’s Nature Festival, to celebrate the planting of the Governor’s rose.

I trust our garden tour attendees have enjoyed their exploration of our grounds and have learned an interesting fact or two to share with their friends and family.

Those of you who have visited Government House over the years, or decades, would know that this is a long-standing and much-loved rose garden.

When it’s in full bloom, the flowers and their scent are a thing of beauty.

It was my distinguished predecessor, the Hon Hieu Van Le, who initiated the creation of the Governor’s rose garden, after an inspired suggestion from the Rose Society.

With the assistance of the Society – in what would have been a considerable task - a bloom was selected for every Governor of South Australia, planted, and plaques added.

It has been my pleasure to select a rose to add to the garden, the yellow Hybrid Tea rose, named ‘Southern Horizon’.

I thank everyone present who entered the naming competition, for their entries.

We were pleased to receive submissions from across South Australia, with recurring themes including the State’s landscape, light, connection and looking towards the future.

Southern Horizon was chosen because it brought together ideas contained in many submissions.

Rod and I have had the privilege of travelling extensively across South Australia during my term and meeting people from many different communities.

Southern Horizon reflects that experience, while also capturing the strong sense of place and connection that characterises South Australia.

I thank the Rose Society for its contribution to the project, as well as Penola grower and distributor Brian Wagner.

Thank you all for coming and for sharing in this naming ceremony. I trust it’s well on its way to becoming a much-loved and enduring tradition at Government House.