Governor of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide (2026)

12/06/2026

Leadership across borders.

Today, the Governor welcomed delegates participating in the Women Leaders 2026 Regional Executive Study Tour to Government House.

Hosted by the Trans-Tasman Business Circle, the study tour brings together women leaders from across Australia and New Zealand to explore contemporary leadership, governance and the issues shaping the region.

With leadership development a key priority for the Governor, the luncheon gave Her Excellency the opportunity to recognise programs such as Women Leaders for their role in building connection, learning and collaboration.

11/06/2026

Pacific bridge.

Today, the Governor welcomed representatives of South Australian government schools participating in the Japan-South Australia sister schools program to Government House.

The event brought together students and principals from Adelaide High School, Golden Grove High School, Glenunga International High School, Henley High School, Marryatville High School, Norwood International High School, Underdale High School, Wirreanda High School, and Reynella East High School, alongside representatives from the International Education Services team.

Her Excellency heard how the sister schools program enables students to engage directly with Japanese peers, deepen language skills, and develop a practical understanding of international collaboration.

The morning tea - which forms part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the signing of the Basic of Friendship between Australia and Japan - also provided an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of schools, principals, and students in sustaining and growing the relationship.

The Governor will make an official visit to Japan from 13-17 June during which she will meet students at counterpart Japanese schools.

10/06/2026

Drive alive.

Established in 2018, the Get Home Safe Foundation was created to challenge complacency around road trauma and deliver practical road safety education across schools, workplaces and communities. Since then, it has reached more than 10,000 South Australian students and parents through its Year 10 Road Safety Program.

This evening, the Governor hosted a reception to thank the volunteer Board Members, sponsors and supporters of the Foundation for their commitment to helping more people get home safe.

Her Excellency, who is patron of Get Home Safe, also heard about the Foundation’s five-year Regional Road Safety Alliance initiative, working with regional councils to address the disproportionate impact of road trauma in country areas.

At the reception, Her Excellency also spoke with Get Home Safe Foundation ambassadors Kelly Golding, Graeme Goodings, and Eli Murn OAM, whom she invested with the Medal of the Order of Australia in May 2026, recognising his longstanding contribution to road safety advocacy, and discussed the importance of the program..

10/06/2026

For the first time, in its history, South Australia has a female Governor, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, and a female Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Honourable Nat Cook MP.

Her Excellency the Governor received members of the House of Assembly on 5 May in a traditional ceremony for the MPs to “present the Speaker”, and again, also with all MPs, on 2 June, for the presentation of the Address-in-Reply, a collation of the speeches made by MPs in response to Her Excellency’s speech on 5 May, opening the current Parliament.

Traditionally too, the Speaker regularly calls on the Governor to present the Bills passed by the House of Assembly and update her on the business of the House.

The first such call took place today.

Her Excellency is the third woman to hold the position of Governor, first held by the Hon Dame Roma Mitchell (1991-1996) and subsequently by the Hon Marjorie Jackson-Nelson (2001-2007).

The Hon Ms Cook is the second woman to hold the position of Speaker, first held by Lyn Breuer (2010–2013).

09/06/2026

Building legacy.

For 50 years, Habitat for Humanity SA has worked alongside families, volunteers, businesses, and community partners to build homes, repair housing, and create pathways to independence.

The Governor and Mr Bunten welcomed to Government House the volunteers, sponsors and partners whose support has helped to drive Habitat for Humanity SA’s impact over the past five decades.

During the evening, guests heard from Her Excellency and CEO Michael Arman, while the Governor also presented the organisation's 50 Year Awards, with HPG Homes recognised as Homebuilding Partner, the Harvey Foundation as Catalyst for Change Partner, and SHAPE as ReStore Partner (representative not pictured).

09/06/2026

For more than 150 years, the Flaxley Church on Peramangk Country has brought people together. Today, it is helping to weave new stories of culture and healing.

The Governor and Mr Bunten visited Woven Reconciliation Group at the church, its meeting place, where Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people come together in a spirit of respect and understanding.

They heard from the group’s founder Ros Cameron, who, together with her brother Kym Willis, was removed from her birth family and raised in Flaxley.

The Governor and Mr Bunten were also joined by Mayor David Leach, Mount Barker District Council, and family members of Aunty Ros.

Supporting reconciliation is one of the Governor's key priorities, and the visit highlighted the important role Woven plays in fostering truth-telling, cultural understanding and connection across the Adelaide Hills community.

08/06/2026

Professor Peter Buckskin OAM PSM FACE and Legh Davis OAM were both recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List for exceptional service to the community, but passed away before they could be invested.

A proud Narungga man from Guuranda (Yorke Peninsula), Professor Peter Buckskin was one of Australia's most influential Aboriginal education leaders.

Over more than four decades, he worked to improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, serving as a teacher, senior public servant, Ministerial Adviser and university leader.

As inaugural Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation, he helped shape national education policy from early childhood through to higher education, while his leadership of major initiatives to increase the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teaching workforce strengthened opportunities for future generations.
�Professor Buckskin also served for many years as Co-Chair of Reconciliation South Australia and was a familiar and respected figure at Adelaide's National Reconciliation Breakfast, the largest event of its kind in Australia.

Legh Davis dedicated much of his life to public service, political leadership and community philanthropy.

He served in the South Australian Legislative Council for more than two decades, including as Deputy Leader in the Upper House, and later as State President of the Liberal Party of South Australia.

Beyond politics, he was a passionate advocate for the arts and charitable causes.

As Chair of the Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation, he played a leading role in supporting the redevelopment of Her Majesty's Theatre, helping secure a lasting cultural asset for South Australia.

He also devoted many years to organisations including the Bow Tie Club, Australia Day Council and Flinders University, contributing to the civic and cultural life of the State.��Recognition through the Order of Australia honours the significant contribution Professor Buckskin and Mr Davis made to the educational, cultural, civic and community life of South Australia.

08/06/2026

Congratulations to all Australians recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List, and especially to the South Australian women and men for their achievements and inspiring service to our community.

Among the 88 South Australian recipients are:
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC): Ms Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja AO for eminent service to the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence, to gender equity, and to the promotion of human rights and global systemic change.

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO):
Professor Jozef Gecz for distinguished service to human translational genetic science, to genomic research, to child health, and to neurodevelopmental disability.

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Professor Konrad Pesudovs for significant service to optometry and ophthalmology research, and to clinical education and training.

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) – General Division
Mr Salvatore Ciccarello forsignificant service to sports administration, and to the community of South Australia.

Public Service Medal (PSM) – Federal
Mrs Janice Ann Silby for outstanding public service as South Australian Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Public Service Medal (PSM) – South Australia
Mrs Dianne Mary Simmons for outstanding public service as a nurse and midwife consultant in perinatal mental health.

Recipients will be formally presented with the insignia of their awards at Investiture Ceremonies at Government House, to be held at a later date.

Visit gg.gov.au to view the full list of honours.

australianhonoursandawards

05/06/2026

“I love that phrase, 'to travel is better than to arrive'. If we have enjoyed this process, and we have developed relationships; if we have built something day by day, week by week, year by year; if we've wrestled with some really tough stuff, but we've called each other into the conversation, and we've come up with solutions that feel good to us, then I think we can be proud." - Dr Kiera Lindsey, South Australia’s History Advocate.

Thank you to Dr Kiera Lindsey for joining Her Excellency this afternoon to reflect on the stories that have shaped South Australia’s past, and the legacy the state is building ahead of its 200th anniversary.

We also thank everyone who joined us in the Government House Ballroom and via the livestream, and for the thoughtful questions shared throughout the discussion.

Bookings will open on Monday, 15 June at 9am for the next session in the series, to be held on Friday, 3 July 2026, from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.

The Governor will engage in a conversation with award-winning chef, author, and television presenter Adam Liaw and Nicola Palmer of the Watervale Hotel on ‘The Future of Food and Dining in South Australia’, examining the changing face of the State’s culinary landscape, from local produce to hospitality experiences.

Visit governor.sa.gov.au to reserve your place.

05/06/2026

Her Excellency will be joined by Dr Kiera Lindsey, South Australia’s History Advocate, to reflect on the stories that define our past and the legacy the state is building ahead of its 200th anniversary.

Governor of South Australia

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