State reception for Governor but successor still not named
With the end of the Governor’s term looming, it has been confirmed a Thai cave rescue hero will be made administrator of the state. Last night, Frances Adamson shared special moments in her role.
Premier Peter Malinauskas praised SA Governor Frances Adamson for her commitment to the role in a state reception at Adelaide Oval last night to celebrate her term. The event coming as news emerged a new Governor will not be named until after her term expires on October 6.
It has now been confirmed that Dr Richard Harris – who won international acclaim for his role in rescuing 12 boys and their coach from a flooded Thai Cave, would be appointed administrator until the new Governor was sworn in.
Harris is currently Lieutenant Governor of South Australia.
Last night, Malinauskas gave thanks to former Premier Steven Marshall for encouraging Adamson to return from Canberra to take the role and told how he would miss regular coffee catch ups at Government House.
Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn described Adamson’s terms as being one marked by “grace” as hundreds of leading South Australians celebrated her term at last night’s reception.
Governor Adamson, who declined to take on another five-year term in the role offered by the Premier, shared significant moments, acknowledging the state’s volunteers and saying she served at a time when “South Australia is going from strength to strength and willing to take a lead nationally and internationally”.
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Earlier this year, the Governor wrote an opinion piece for InDaily saying the most effective leaders are the ones who listen to their counterparts and think deeply about the future.
The Premier is yet to name the next Governor, and it has been confirmed that the process for King Charles to appoint a successor to Adamson has been initiated but was unlikely to be concluded in time, meaning Harris would step into the administrator role.
Last night’s reception to “acknowledge and honour the service” of Adamson and her husband Rod Bunten, a physicist, former British diplomat and school teacher, drew politicians, former government leaders, heads of churches and departments, industry leaders and former Australians of the Year.
In her speech, Adamson told of the SA response to the Queen of England dying in September, 2022, saying ” the respect and affection in which she was held brought many thousands of South Australians to Government House to place tributes around her statue and sign condolence books”.
“The wattle trees members of the public planted in the gardens at Government House to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III in May the following year have grown from tube stock to an impressive height.
“His Majesty has followed their progress, as he has followed South Australia’s progress, with keen interest.”
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The SA Police band welcomed guests with the Premier and his wife, Annabelle West, accompanying the Governor and Bunten into the event.
Adamson was born and grew up in South Australia, her mother Jennifer Cashmore was the state’s first female Health Minister.
Adamson studied economics at the University of Adelaide, was the first female captain of the boat club in its 103-year history and went on to serve as Australia’s Ambassador to China, having also served twice in the Australian High Commission in London.
In 2016, Adamson was appointed head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, pursuing Australia’s interests as world powers shifted and the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
Last night when she spoke about her term as Governor, Adamson told of it being “heartwarming to visit a school for students in their late teens and early twenties and see a whiteboard with “da Guv is coming” written on it, alongside students’ suggestions for conversation topics”.
“And later, over a cup of tea, be asked, “So, Frances and Rod, how has Frances being Governor affected your relationship?”
She finished her speech by answering that question.
“By the way, the answer to the question those students posed was ‘I love him and he loves me and we have so enjoyed our time together over the past five years’.
“More than anything else, Rod has helped make Government House what we both wanted it to be: a house and gardens for all South Australians, accessible to all, welcoming to all.”
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