July 2025

Friday, 18 July 2025

While on a Regional Visit to Macedon Ranges Shire Council, the Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, visited Hirsch Park, where she met with Eddie Hirsch, Owner, Woodside Park Stud and Hirsch Racing, before being escorted on a tour of the facilities and receiving a briefing on operations.

Concluding a Regional Visit to Macedon Ranges Shire Council, the Governor visited Hanging Rock, where she met with Rebecca Pedretti, Coordinator Visitor Economy, Macedon Ranges Shire Council, before being escorted to the summit of Hanging Rock and receiving a briefing on the site’s history and plans for expansion.

In the evening, the Governor attended the President’s Dinner at the Lyceum Club Melbourne, where she met with Ileana Guizzo, President.

In the morning at Government House, members of the public visited for a guided tour of the gardens.

Thursday, 17 July 2025

Commencing a Regional Visit to Macedon Ranges Shire Council, the Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, met with Councillor Dom Bonanno, Mayor, and Bernie O’Sullivan, CEO, Macedon Ranges Shire Council, before receiving a briefing from the Mayor, CEO, Councillors and Macedon Ranges Shire Council staff.

Following this, the Governor visited RATIONALE, where she met with Shamini Rajarethnam, CEO, before receiving a briefing and being escorted on a tour of the site and meeting with staff.

Then, the Governor visited Walden Park, where she met with Donna Coutts, Farm Manager, before receiving a briefing on the effects from the drought.

In the afternoon, the Governor visited Josh’s Rainbow Eggs, where she met with Keree Bradshaw, Consultant, and Cherese Azzopardi, Farm Supervisor, before receiving a virtual briefing from Josh Murray, Founder, and Dr Tamsyn Murray, CEO, and being escorted on a tour of the hen shed and grading facility.

Wednesday, 16 July 2025

While on a Regional Visit to Mount Alexander Shire Council, the Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, visited DON KR Castlemaine, where she met with Will Ursell, Managing Director, DON, George Western Foods, before receiving a briefing and touring the factory and solar farm.

Following this, the Governor visited Victoria Goldfields Railway, where she met with Rob Lee, President, and William Maylor, CEO, before being escorted on a tour of the workshop and participating in a train ride with staff and volunteers.

In the afternoon, the Governor visited Buda Historic Home and Garden, where she met with Bronwyn Rudolph, President, and Vivienne Hamilton, CEO, before being escorted on a tour of the house and garden and attending an afternoon tea with staff and volunteers.

Then, the Governor visited Castlemaine Art Museum, where she met with Dr Stewart Gill OAM, Board Member, Castlemaine Art Gallery, before being escorted on a tour of the museum.

Concluding a Regional Visit to Mount Alexander Shire Council, the Governor attended a Civic Reception hosted by Mount Alexander Shire Council, where she delivered a speech to mark the occasion.

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

The Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, presided at a meeting of the Executive Council.

Then, the Governor commenced a Regional Visit of Mount Alexander Shire Council, where she met with Councillor Rosie Annear, Mayor, and Darren Fuzzard, CEO, Mount Alexander Shire Council, before receiving a briefing from the Mayor, CEO, and Councillors.

Following this, the Governor attended a roundtable with representatives from small businesses across Mount Alexander Shire.

In the afternoon, the Governor visited Tarrengower Prison, where she met with Megan McClelland, Assistant Commissioner, Corrections Victoria, and Karen Shroder, Acting General Manager, Tarrengower Prison, before touring the facility and attending an afternoon tea with staff and prisoners.

Then, the Governor visited Harcourt Perry and Cider Makers, where she met with Simon Frost, Managing Director, and Victoria Frost, Director, before touring the shop and warehouse facility and sampling the product range.

Monday, 14 July 2025

In the morning at Government House, members of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action 2025 graduate program visited for a guided tour of the State Apartments and Kitchen Garden.

Friday, 11 July 2025

The Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, received the phone call of Professor Iain Martin, Vice-Chancellor and President, Deakin University.

In the afternoon, the Governor received the call of Professor Philip Mendes, Director Social Inclusion and Social Policy Research Unit, Monash University.

In the morning at Government House, members of the public visited for a guided school holidays family tour of the State Apartments and Kitchen Garden.

Thursday, 10 July 2025

The Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, as Patron, visited the Expression Australia Head Office and Community Hub, where she met with Demetrio Zema, Chair, and Rebecca Adam, CEO, before receiving a briefing.

Following this, the Governor was escorted on a tour where she visited the Audiology Department, Dalton Studio and Language Services area, before attending a morning tea with staff and supporters of Expression Australia.

In the afternoon, the Governor received the call of Steven Skala AO, Chair, Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Wednesday, 9 July 2025

The Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, received the phone call of Professor Alec Cameron, Vice-Chancellor and President, RMIT University.

In the afternoon, the Governor, as Patron-in-Chief, hosted an afternoon tea to celebrate the 50th anniversary of 3MBS Melbourne, where she delivered a speech to mark the occasion.

Tuesday, 8 July 2025

The Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, visited Assembled Threads, where she met with Edwina Walsh, Founder and CEO, before receiving a briefing and being escorted on a tour to meet with staff members and members of partner organisations.

In the afternoon, the Governor hosted an afternoon tea for the 2025 YMCA Victoria Youth Parliament, where she delivered a speech to mark the occasion.

In the morning at Government House, participants from the Coolibah Social Connections Hub visited for the Kitchen Garden Program.

Friday, 4 July 2025

The Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, received the phone call of Professor Emma Johnston AO, Vice-Chancellor and Professor Mark Cassidy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), The University of Melbourne.

Following this, the Governor received the call of Professor John Murphy, Emeritus Professor of Politics, The University of Melbourne.

In the evening, the Governor, accompanied by Professor Glyn Davis AC, attended the opening night of Melbourne Theatre Company's ‘Mother Play’, where they met with Leigh O’Neil, Acting Chair, and Sally Noonan, Executive Director and Co-CEO, Melbourne Theatre Company.

In the morning at Government House, members of the Nadascra Disability Community Participation Program visited for a guided tour of the State Apartments and Kitchen Garden.

Thursday, 3 July 2025

The Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, visited Yarra Valley Grammar, where she met with Dr Mark Merry, Principal and CEO, Carrie Edwards-Britt, Chair, and the school captains, before delivering a speech.

Following this, the Governor unveiled a plaque to officially open the new Performing Arts and Media Centre, before being escorted on a tour of the building.

In the afternoon, the Governor visited the TarraWarra Museum of Art, where she met with Daniel Besen AM, Chair, and Dr Victoria Lynn, Director, before being escorted on a tour of the “We Are Eagles” exhibition and the recently opened Eva & Marc Besen Centre.

Wednesday, 2 July 2025

The Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, received the call of Anne Jolic, CEO, Development Victoria.

In the afternoon, the Governor attended the Premier’s VCE Awards, where she delivered a speech and presented recipients with their awards.

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

The Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, presided at a meeting of the Executive Council.

Then, the Governor attended an Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce Lunch, where she met with Leon Kempler AM, Chairman, and delivered an address.

In the evening, the Governor, as Patron-in-Chief, hosted a reception for Musculoskeletal Health Australia to launch the World’s Biggest Sit-In Campaign, where she delivered a speech to mark the occasion.

In the morning at Government House, participants from the Coolibah Social Connections Hub visited for the Kitchen Garden Program.

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