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SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF IRELAND, MARY ROBINSON AT A RECEPTION HOSTED BY PREMIER LAWRENCE IN PERTH

THURSDAY, 22 OCTOBER, 1992

I would like to express my delight and gratitude at Premier Lawrence's kind hospitality in hosting a reception for me at the start of my official tour of Australia.  Already, I feel at home here, in a country which Bob Hawke, on the occasion of his visit to Ireland in 1987, described as the most Irish country outside Ireland.  It is estimated that one third of the Australian population can claim Irish ancestry and nowhere else have the Irish made such an important contribution to the development of a modern nation.

 

Western Australia, and the beautiful city of Perth, in particular, has long had strong associations with Ireland.  The Irish have settled here since the first European settlement in the last century.  Some may have come as reluctant migrants, but all saw in this unique area, a place in which they and their families could thrive and in turn contribute to the development of the new country.

 

Western Australia is associated in the popular mind with the search for gold as a result of the discovery, by Clareman, Paddy Hannan, of rich deposits at Kalgoorlie.  The mineral riches, the beautiful climate and the wild, untamed quality of the landscape, all worked their magic on the Irish settlers (and indeed, on their descendants and the new migrants today).

 

The Irish have made major contributions to the Government of Western Australia.  Charles Fitzgerald was one of the early Governors of Western Australia.  Both he and his Irish-born successor, Arthur Kennedy, were committed to developing a strong educational system.  Many other Governors, Premiers and politicians were of Irish origin.  I am glad to say that you, Premier Lawrence, have forebears with the well-known Irish surname of Gleason and Ryan.

 

I would like, in this regards, to mention a subject of particular interest to myself, namely, the role of Irish women in the development of the Australian State.  Their contribution is often overlooked - yet Irish women were a large proportion of the early convicts.  Here in Western Australia, women came as migrants, eager to embrace the opportunities offered by this new, largely undiscovered land.

 

I would like to mention a few notable examples.  Daisy Bates, a Tipperary-born woman, devoted her life to improving conditions for the Aborigines.  She pioneered the study of Aboriginal customs and traditions, long before this became fashionable, and was able to provide a record of the history of a declining race.  You, Premier Lawrence, are also a pioneer in your own right, as the first female Premier of Western Australia.  It is encouraging to note that both recent female Australian Premiers have been of Irish origin.

 

In economic terms, the links between Ireland and Australia are continuing to develop.  Investment is an important feature of Irish economic policy and the attractive investment package offered to overseas investors has encouraged many Australian companies to invest in Ireland.  I am proud to say that there are now 20 Australian companies in Ireland, employing over 2,000 people.  These include Beamish and Crawford brewery, owned by Elders Bank, and National Irish Bank owned by National Australia Bank.  Investment is, of course, a two-way process and many Irish companies have also made substantial investments in Australia.  These include Fitzwilton, Allied Irish Banks, Waterford/Wedgewood and, of course, the purchase of APN by Dr. Tony O'Reilly.  There are over 1,500 Australians now working for Irish companies.  It is my hope that such economic links will continue to develop to the benefit of both countries in the future.

 

We come from countries of beautiful, of sometimes harsh, landscapes, which draw from us a deep, emotional response.  The Irish have long been enchanted by the beauty of Western Australia.  As John Boyle O'Reilly, one of the Fenians imprisoned here, described Western Australia thus:-

 

        "O beauteous southland!  Land of yellow air

        That hangeth o'er thee, slumbering and doth hold

        The moveless foliage of the valleys fair

        And wooded hills, like aureole of gold".

 

I have only been in Perth a very short time but already feel its magic working on me.  The welcome of its people has been equally overwhelming.  I can only say a simple word of thanks to you, Premier Lawrence, for your kind hospitality.  As we say in Irish:

 

    Gura míle maith agaibh go léir - Thank you a thousand times.