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

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<strong>Report</strong> on performanceAdaminaby Snowy Scheme Museum; <strong>the</strong> launch <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Australian Year <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Farmer <strong>2012</strong>; <strong>the</strong> visit to<strong>the</strong> Pilbara/Kimberley region, which included miningprojects and Indigenous programs; involvementin commemorative services marking <strong>the</strong> firstanniversary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Queensland floods; and <strong>the</strong>opening <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new community centre in Marysville,one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> small towns devastated by <strong>the</strong> 2009Victorian bushfires.The Office assisted <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> with <strong>the</strong>recording <strong>of</strong> her Australia Day <strong>2012</strong> and ANZACDay <strong>2012</strong> addresses. It organised <strong>the</strong> production<strong>of</strong> 22 video messages by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong>for organisations <strong>of</strong> which she is Patron and formajor events including <strong>the</strong> Salvation Army RedShield Appeal and <strong>the</strong> annual breakfast held inAustralia for <strong>the</strong> Office <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Officeproduced its first vodcast, an opening message by<strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> for a film and online videoabout <strong>the</strong> Jessie Street National Women’s Library.The <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> delivered 148 speechesduring <strong>the</strong> year.The <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong>’s speeches are publishedon <strong>the</strong> Office’s website, along with details <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>program and events she attends and hosts. Over100 written messages from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong>were sent to community organisations for majorevents or milestones during <strong>the</strong> year.Media coverage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Office was alsoconsiderable, with particular focus on <strong>the</strong> AustraliaDay and Queen’s Birthday Honours lists and <strong>the</strong>subsequent investitures <strong>of</strong> recipients at GovernmentHouse. On <strong>the</strong> Queen’s Birthday public holiday, SkyNews broadcast for several hours from AdmiraltyHouse in Sydney, recording interviews withrecipients and <strong>the</strong> Director <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Honours andAwards Branch. The Office responded helpfully toenquiries from media representatives and members<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public.Strong public interest in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong>’srole and activities and <strong>the</strong> operations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Officewere reflected in record high usage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Office’swebsite (www.gg.gov.au). Over 24 million hits wererecorded in <strong>2011</strong>–12, reflecting an increase <strong>of</strong>33 per cent over <strong>the</strong> previous year, and continuing<strong>the</strong> exponential increase in website hits and userengagement since Ms Bryce was sworn in as<strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> in September 2008.The website recorded 19.1 million file downloadsfor <strong>the</strong> year. Website users in Australia and <strong>the</strong>United States recorded <strong>the</strong> highest level <strong>of</strong> activity,followed by Canada, New Zealand, Germany andIndia. A large proportion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 653,000 uniquevisitors to <strong>the</strong> website was attributed to interest inannouncements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Order <strong>of</strong> Australia awards onAustralia Day and The Queen’s Birthday. Continualdevelopment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> website and <strong>the</strong> Office’spractice <strong>of</strong> uploading new content within a 24 hourperiod maintained <strong>the</strong> currency and appeal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>site. The Information Publication Scheme section <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> website continued to enhance <strong>the</strong> accessibility<strong>of</strong> data about <strong>the</strong> Office’s functions.CorrespondenceIn <strong>2011</strong>–12, <strong>the</strong> Office received and attendedto 7,791 items <strong>of</strong> correspondence. This figurerepresents a decrease <strong>of</strong> over 50 per centcompared with <strong>the</strong> previous year. While <strong>the</strong>number <strong>of</strong> written letters received remainedreasonably constant, electronic correspondencedecreased significantly following <strong>the</strong> introduction <strong>of</strong>an email form on <strong>the</strong> Office’s website contact page.In addition, <strong>the</strong> Honours and Awards Branchreceived 23,305 items <strong>of</strong> correspondence, including1,888 nominations for Order <strong>of</strong> Australia andAustralian Bravery decorations.The Office sent 10,196 congratulatory messagesfrom <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong> for significant birthdaysand wedding anniversaries, and 6,988 congratulatorymessages on behalf <strong>of</strong> The Queen. Over 1,400<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Governor</strong>-<strong>General</strong>’s messages were forAustralians turning 100 or more years <strong>of</strong> age.<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2011</strong>–<strong>2012</strong>37

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