Governor-General e-visits Ipswich to discuss pandemic impacts
14 August 2021
The Governor-General of Australia His Excellency, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) has thanked Ipswich community leaders for their pandemic response and highlighted the push for increased vaccination rates in his first meeting with Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding.
The Governor-General and his wife, Mrs Linda Hurley, met with Mayor Harding via video link Friday to discuss the pandemic’s impact on local families, businesses and community organisations.
Mayor Harding said the Governor-General’s message would provide a welcome boost to the Ipswich community.
“It was heart-warming to hear His Excellency’s genuine compassion and concern for how Ipswich residents are being impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mayor Harding said.
“We spoke about the fantastic community spirit from residents during the lockdowns as well as some of the challenges faced by our small businesses, tourism industry and grassroots organisations.
“I assured His Excellency, that council is focussed on supporting State and Federal COVID-relief measures with targeted investment and training for key stakeholders.”
The Governor-General said many communities were facing a challenge that is unprecedented in living memory.
“COVID-19 is testing us individually and challenging our normal way of life,” the Governor-General said.
“It is a test that we will pass if we listen and adhere to the advice and directions of the authorities and look out for and stay kind to each other.
“The people of Ipswich and South East Queensland have had a tough time of things of late.
“It was important to Linda and myself that we check in with Mayor Harding to hear how the community was faring.”
Ipswich City Council has provided more than $2 million in COVID relief for local businesses, artists, sporting and community organisations since the beginning of the pandemic. Online grant-access workshops have been made available to local businesses as part of council’s response to the most recent outbreak.