Defence chats, keeping up international relations and celebrating the Women’s Hall of Fame

This morning the Governor bade a fond farewell to His Excellency Mr Kwok Fook Seng, Singapore’s High Commissioner, who has represented his country in Australia for 5 and a half years. Mr Kwok is a long-time friend of Western Australia, a place he knows very well, having studied at Murdoch University in his youth.

In a friendly and wide-ranging discussion, they pondered developments in Europe and in our region, sharing insights about how the COVID pandemic had impacted Australia and Singapore in different ways. Mr Kwok shared how his country was using platforms created to help expand its digital economy to the sustainability space. The Governor expressed his delight that students from Singapore would soon return to studying in Western Australia, and both were appreciative of ongoing defence ties between the two nations, including the provision of training for Singaporean pilots.

Mr Kwok will soon begin a new posting somewhere nearby in the region, sharing his and Mrs Kwok’s desire to return to Western Australia as tourists – a place he loved for its vast space and endless skies.

Defence West

The Governor welcomed representatives from Defence West, Mr Simon Bell and Ms Vivian Blycha, to explore further opportunities to enhance resilience and leverage State expertise through new infrastructure.

Women’s Hall of Fame

This evening, 16 inspiring West Australian women were inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame.

First established in 2011 in recognition of the Centenary of International Women’s Day, held annually on 8th March, its purpose is to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Western Australian women past, present and future. The 2022 ceremony, held in the Government House Ballroom, recognised women from a vast array of fields, including a forensic scientist, human rights activists, trailblazing businesswomen, health professionals, an inspiring young environmental community leader and many more. Of the 16 women inducted, 11 are from culturally and linguistically diverse or Aboriginal heritage.

During his speech, the Governor stated, “Your membership of the Hall of Fame’s growing alumni will no doubt provide the opportunity to continue the long tradition of women making real and enduring changes that will help shape the future of our great state. I congratulate you all on the recognition of your personal achievements and for the contribution you are making, and the example you are setting for our future generations of young women.”

An exhibition featuring portrait photographs of each of the 2022 Inductees will be shown in Brookfield Tower 2 from 8th -18th March before heading off on a metro, and potentially regional, tour.

For a full list of inductees, please click here.

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