Download Annual Report 2011-2012 - Governor-General of the ...

Report on performanceMeetings with visiting heads ofstate, heads of government andother dignitariesDuring their sixteenth visit to Australia, whichincluded the Commonwealth Heads of GovernmentMeeting (CHOGM) held in Perth, Her MajestyThe Queen and His Royal Highness The Dukeof Edinburgh stayed at Government House from19 to 26 October 2011. The Governor-Generalhosted a lunch in their honour on 23 October. Shehosted a reception to launch the 50th Anniversaryof The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Australiaon 21 October, and a reception for alumni of theCommonwealth Study Conferences on 22 October,both in the presence of His Royal Highness TheDuke of Edinburgh. The Queen and The Dukeof Edinburgh planted two trees in the grounds ofGovernment House to mark their Royal visit.Four formal lunches were hosted at GovernmentHouse for visiting heads of state throughout theyear. The Governor-General hosted a State Lunchin honour of the President of the Seychelles HisExcellency Mr James Alix Michel, on 23 August2011; a State Lunch in honour of the President ofthe Republic of Lebanon, His Excellency GeneralMichel Sleiman on 17 April 2012; and an officiallunch in honour of the President of the Republicof Portugal, His Excellency Professor Anibal CavacoSilva on 25 May 2012. The Administrator, ProfessorMarie Bashir AC CVO hosted a State Lunch inhonour of the President of the Gabonese Republic,His Excellency Mr Ali Bongo Ondimba, duringthe Governor-General’s absence overseas on29 March 2012.While in Perth for CHOGM on 26 October 2011,the Governor-General hosted a State Dinner inhonour of the President of Federal Republic ofNigeria, His Excellency Dr Goodluck Jonathan.On 30 October 2011 in Melbourne, the Governor-General received the Governor-General of NewZealand, His Excellency Lieutenant General theRight Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM QSO.Directly after their meeting, the two Governors-General attended the final match between theAustralian Diamonds and New Zealand SilverFerns women’s netball teams for the ConstellationCup 2011.On 17 November 2011, the Governor-Generalattended a wreath laying ceremony at the AustralianWar Memorial, Canberra, with the President ofthe United States of America, the HonourableBarack Obama.On 28 May 2012, the Governor-General receivedthe King of Tonga, His Majesty King Tupou VI, and theQueen of Tonga, Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u,accompanied by HRH Princess Angelika,at Government House.The Governor-General received the PrimeMinister of the Independent State of Papua NewGuinea, the Honourable Peter O’Neill CMG MP,on 13 October 2011; the Prime Minister of theRepublic of Trinidad and Tobago, the HonourableKamla Persad-Bissessar MP on 26 October 2011;and the Prime Minister of Thailand, Her ExcellencyMs Yingluck Shinawatra on 28 May 2012.The Governor-General received the Presidentof the European Commission, His ExcellencyMr Jose Manual Barroso on 5 September 2011.On 8 September 2011, she hosted a dinner ofGovernment House in honour of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His ExcellencyMr Ban Ki Moon.On 20 November 2011, the Governor-Generalhosted a dinner in honour of His Royal HighnessCrown Prince Frederik and Her Royal HighnessCrown Princess Mary of Denmark at AdmiraltyHouse, Sydney.The Governor-General receives the Secretary-General ofthe United Nations, His Excellency Mr Ban Ki-Moon, atGovernment House on 8 September 2011Annual Report 2011–201227