Governor's Speech
SPEECH AS PATRON OF
THE GAY & LESBIAN COUNSELLING SERVICE OF NSW
TO OFFICIALLY OPEN JOINT PREMISES WITH TWENTY 10
TWENTY 10, BEDFORD STREET, NEWTOWN
Saturday 17th July 2004
HER EXCELLENCY PROFESSOR MARIE BASHIR AC
GOVERNOR OF NEW SOUTH WALES
MR BADEN CHALMERS AND MS TRACEY LEUPEN, Co-Presidents,
Gay & Lesbian Counselling Service (GLCS)
MS GEMMA EDGAR, Twenty 10 Co-Convenor
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
[GOVERNOR THANKS BADEN AND TRACEY, RECOGNISES ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THE LAND]
I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF THESE PREMISES. I HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE GAY AND LESBIAN COUNSELLING SERVICE AND TWENTY10 OVER MANY YEARS.
I AM VERY WELL AWARE OF THE IMPORTANT AND COMPASSIONATE ROLE WHICH HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THESE WONDERFUL SERVICES. A SERVICE DOES NOT JUST APPEAR BECAUSE A NEED EXISTS OR BECAUSE IT IS APPROPRIATE. THIS SERVICE WAS ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE COURAGE AND STRENGTH OF SO MANY PEOPLE.
BUT THERE IS ONE MAN I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION TONIGHT, A VERY VALUED COLLEAGUE WHO CANNOT BE HERE TONIGHT, A FRIEND OF MINE, — PETER TREBILCO. HIS EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH AND PROVIDE THE SERVICE SINCE ITS INCEPTION HAVE BEEN IMMENSE.
IT WAS GRATIFYING TO SEE PETER’S CONSIDERABLE CONTRIBUTION, NOT ONLY TO THE GAY AND LESBIAN COUNSELLING SERVICE BUT TO ESTABLISHING THE MAINSTREAM COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICE, RECOGNISED IN THE RECENT AUSTRALIA HONOURS AWARDS.
THE RECENT LAUNCH OF A DEDICATED LESBIAN COUNSELLING LINE IS A VERY IMPORTANT — AND I BELIEVE ESSENTIAL — SERVICE PROVIDING GREATER SENSITIVITY AND SENSE OF CONFIDENCE TO CALLERS.
ANOTHER VERY IMPRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WARMED MY HEART HAS BEEN THE COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING OF 25 ADDITIONAL COUNSELLORS, WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE EVEN SPEEDIER ACCESS TO ANYONE SEEKING ASSISTANCE. TALKING TO THE COUNSELLORS TONIGHT, I REALISE THE DEMAND IS CONSIDERABLE.
TWENTY10 HAS BEEN AN ADMIRABLE INSPIRATION FOR A LONG TIME. ONE CANNOT HELP BUT BE IMMENSELY IMPRESSED BY THE FACT THAT IN THE PAST YEAR, TWENTY10 HAS WORKED VIGOROUSLY IN THE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION OF DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE, AND FOR THAT I THANK YOU PERSONALLY. SO MUCH GOOD CAN BE DONE, SO MUCH TURNING AROUND THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
FAR TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE TRAUMATIC RELATIONSHIPS AND HOMELESSNESS, AND THE TERRIBLE SPIRALLING DOWN INTO DEPRESSION CAN AFFECT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE ALIENATED FROM THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
TWENTY10 SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED AND APPLAUDED FOR BEING INVOLVED IN THE TRAINING OF 200 SOCIAL WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE TO ASSIST THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
I AM SURE THAT THESE TWO HIGHLY EXPERIENCED ORGANISATIONS ARE ALSO EVER MINDFUL OF, (AND I APOLOGISE FOR RAISING THIS AS I KNOW I AM PREACHING TO THE CONVERTED), MINDFUL OF THE CONTINUING CHALLENGE OF SAFE SEX PRACTICES, AND THE MINIMISATION AND ERADICATION OF THE RISK OF HIV.
IN THIS NEW CHAPTER OF PREVENTION AND HARM MINIMISATION, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED SO TIRELESSLY PAINTING AND POLISHING, AND GETTING THIS NEW ACCOMMODATION READY — SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU WHO LENT A HAND. BY THE WAY, I THINK THIS FLOOR IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, IT LOOKS LIKE HISTORIC TIMBER TO ME. WE WISH YOU ALL CONTINUAL GREAT WORK, AND LOOK AFTER ONE ANOTHER.
IT IS NOW WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I DECLARE THIS NEW SPACE, YES, MAYBE SACRED SPACE ON ANCIENT LAND — OFFICIALLY OPEN!
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