Chapter TwoThe <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> meets students and families at Bankstown Girls’ High School after a presentation ceremony on14 December <strong>2011</strong>The <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> speaks with a new citizen after <strong>the</strong> National Flag Raising and Citizenship Ceremony in Canberra onAustralia Day <strong>2012</strong>22 OFFICE OF THE OFFICIAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL
<strong>Report</strong> on performanceCommander-in-ChiefUnder Section 68 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Constitution, <strong>the</strong><strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> is <strong>the</strong> Commander-in-Chief<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Australian Defence Force, including <strong>the</strong>permanent force and reservists. In this role, through<strong>the</strong> Federal Executive Council, she appoints <strong>the</strong>Chief and Vice Chief <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Defence Force and <strong>the</strong>Chiefs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three armed services, and commissions<strong>of</strong>ficers in <strong>the</strong> Royal Australian Navy, <strong>the</strong> AustralianArmy and <strong>the</strong> Royal Australian Air Force.As Commander-in-Chief, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong>has an important ceremonial role to play, attendingmilitary parades, graduation ceremonies andcommemorative occasions such as ANZAC Dayand Remembrance Day, and presenting Coloursand o<strong>the</strong>r insignia to units <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Australian DefenceForce. During <strong>2011</strong>–12 <strong>the</strong> Office liaised closelywith <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Defence to coordinate<strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong>’s involvement in such events,including <strong>the</strong> following:• a Ceremonial Sunset at Admiralty House inrecognition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> centenary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> granting <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> ‘Royal’ assent to <strong>the</strong> Royal Australian Navy,on 9 July <strong>2011</strong>• presentation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Unit Citation for Gallantryto D Company, 6 Royal Australian Regiment, at aparade marking <strong>the</strong> 45 th anniversary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Battle<strong>of</strong> Long Tan at Enoggera Barracks, Brisbane, on18 August <strong>2011</strong>• presentation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Queen’s and RegimentalColours to 7 Royal Australian Regiment inAdelaide, on 10 September <strong>2011</strong>• presentation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong>’sBanner to <strong>the</strong> Royal Australian Army MedicalCorps at Enoggera Barracks, Brisbane, on4 November <strong>2011</strong>• attendance at <strong>the</strong> Anglesea Barracks BicentennialParade in Hobart, on 3 December <strong>2011</strong>• attendance at <strong>the</strong> ANZAC Day service in TarinKowt, Afghanistan, and a visit to Al MinhadAir Base, United Arab Emirates, to meet withcurrently deployed Australian servicemen andwomen, in April <strong>2012</strong>• a visit to <strong>the</strong> International Stabilisation ForceHeadquarters in Dili, Timor-Leste, on 19 May <strong>2012</strong>.The <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> is regularly involved in eventsmarking <strong>the</strong> anniversary <strong>of</strong> significant military occasions,including some whose details have previously not beenwell known. For example, on 14 September <strong>2011</strong>,<strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> unveiled a plaque at GardenIsland, Sydney, to commemorate <strong>the</strong> disappearance<strong>of</strong> Australia’s first submarine, <strong>the</strong> AE1, in September1914 with a full crew <strong>of</strong> 35 sailors on board. On19 February <strong>2012</strong>, Ms Bryce joined Federal andNor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory Government representatives,Australian and American veterans and a large crowd <strong>of</strong>Territorians for a ceremony and o<strong>the</strong>r events marking<strong>the</strong> 70th anniversary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bombing <strong>of</strong> Darwin.On 11 November <strong>2011</strong>, after attending <strong>the</strong> annualRemembrance Day ceremony, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> hosted a lunch at Government House tomark <strong>the</strong> 90th anniversary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Royal AustralianAir Force, <strong>the</strong> 70th anniversary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Siege <strong>of</strong>Tobruk, and <strong>the</strong> 70th anniversary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> formation<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Women’s Services. Among many defencepersonnel who attended were eight Rats <strong>of</strong> Tobrukand 24 women veterans.On 8 May <strong>2012</strong>, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> hosted areception for veterans <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Battle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> CoralSea, whose service 70 years previously representeda milestone in Australia’s military history and itssecurity alliance with <strong>the</strong> United States <strong>of</strong> America.<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2011</strong>–<strong>2012</strong>23
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