Speeches
Friday, 10 October 2025
State Opera of South Australia Golden Jubilee Dinner
As joint Patrons, Rod and I are delighted to join you - the artists, supporters, donors, and opera lovers who have sustained this artform in our state for half a century – at this Gala Dinner celebrating State Opera South Australia's Golden Jubilee.
Rod and I have enjoyed a number of memorable State Opera performances, including The Marriage of Figaro, staged in an office, which at times reminded me of my years as a public servant in Canberra; Lucia di Lammermoor – it would be slightly alarming if that reminded me personally of anything…; and Cosi Fan Tutte.
…and we are looking forward to opening night of Romeo and Juliette, later this month.
I imagine you all remember the first opera that captured your imagination, or the performance that made you fall in love with opera;
…those moments when a voice, the music, a story, a staging – or, as is so uniquely the case with opera, the magical coming together of all of these - stayed with you long after the curtain fell, and your engagement with this most extraordinary, most demanding, most elaborate of artforms was irrevocably fixed.
Demanding, as it does, excellence in so many different disciplines - artistic, managerial, financial, logistical – to think about an opera company is also to think about the people – those of you in this room who bring opera to life in South Australia, whether on stage, behind the scenes, in boardrooms, or through your generous support.
This came home to Rod and me quite poignantly last year when, with many of you present, we celebrated Thomas Edmonds' 90th birthday at Netley and launched his autobiography, and the deep connections between people, artistry, and shared passion for opera were so evident.
State Opera was founded in 1976, and what the company has achieved since then has made an indelible mark on our national and international reputation in the arts, the latter being recognised through Adelaide’s position as Australia’s first and only UNESCO Creative City of Music.
Australia's first Ring Cycle in 1998, the presentation of Nixon in China in 1992, and more recent achievements like the world-first collaboration with Opera Hong Kong on Mozart’s The Magic Flute, have demonstrated State Opera's unwavering vision and ambition.
As a former diplomat, I am professionally admiring of the role State Opera plays in diplomacy through the arts, building cooperation and understanding through the universal language of music.
But even more so, as Governor, I am heartened by the State Opera’s commitment and contribution to the civic and cultural life of our State, making cultural treasures available to us all and working to ensure the continued development and contemporary relevance of this great art form.
I thank the past and present Board members, Artistic Directors, Executive Directors, and all the staff who have dedicated themselves to this company over five decades.
I thank donors and supporters for their generous contributions – you invest in what you cherish, and South Australia is richer for it.
As we look ahead to the Jubilee year in 2026, I am deeply encouraged by State Opera's commitment to bringing opera to more audiences across our state.
In its next fifty years may State Opera South Australia continue to elevate voices, deepen ties between communities, and share the joy of this artform with the people of our state, our nation, and beyond.