Download Annual Report 2011-2012 - Governor-General of the ...
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Chapter TwoOfficial activitiesThe Office provided comprehensive support to<strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> throughout a year in whichengagement with numerous disadvantaged groupscomplemented a busy program <strong>of</strong> vice-regalcommitments. The <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong>’s programenabled her to meet with people and organisationsfrom a broad cross-section <strong>of</strong> Australian society inurban locations as well as in country areas. Aroundone-quarter <strong>of</strong> events attended by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> in Australia were in regional or remoteareas. Ms Bryce represented Australia at severalhistoric military anniversaries and State eventsoverseas. She welcomed Her Majesty The Queento Government House during her sixteenth visitto Australia, and she met with and hosted severalheads <strong>of</strong> state and senior dignitaries who visitedAustralia during <strong>the</strong> year. Highlights and statisticaldetail <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> activities involved are addressed inKey Results.Work units, individual staff members and projectteams within <strong>the</strong> Office received positive andconstructive feedback from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong>on <strong>the</strong> quality <strong>of</strong> support provided, in terms <strong>of</strong>briefings, advice and administration and management<strong>of</strong> household operations. The ability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Officeto balance <strong>the</strong> program was appreciated, withrecognition that this maximised opportunities for<strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> to connect with members<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> community and enabled her to support,encourage and promote Australian values. The rangeand depth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Office’s interaction with relevantagencies and o<strong>the</strong>r groups facilitated <strong>the</strong> performance<strong>of</strong> many aspects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong>’s dutiesand enhanced public knowledge <strong>of</strong> her role incontemporary Australia.Favourable comment on events involving<strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> was received fromrepresentatives <strong>of</strong> governments, agencies, nationalorganisations and local groups as well as guests,visitors to <strong>the</strong> properties and members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>public. Visits to Government House by schoolgroups hit a record high, with <strong>the</strong> 50,000th studentduring Ms Bryce’s term visiting in May <strong>2012</strong>. Activityon <strong>the</strong> Office’s website increased to new recordlevels, with peaks after <strong>the</strong> publication <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Australia Day <strong>2012</strong> and The Queen’s Birthday <strong>2012</strong>honours lists.The <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> as Patron <strong>of</strong>ficially launches <strong>the</strong> Australian Year <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Farmer <strong>2012</strong> near <strong>the</strong> site <strong>of</strong> Australia’s first farm at<strong>the</strong> Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney on 12 October <strong>2011</strong>18 OFFICE OF THE OFFICIAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL
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