 |
Progressing the World Expo '88 Vision
- A non-government not-for-profit entity celebrating Brisbane's World Expo '88 -
Academic Forum
Opening and Closing Ceremony Speeches
"Opening Ceremony Speeches, National Day Speeches, Closing Ceremony Speeches"
Office of the Commissioner-General, World Expo '88
Closing Ceremony
The Hon Sir Edward Williams, KCMG, KBE
Commissioner-General of World Expo '88
PRIME MINISTER, PREMIER, DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE ALL.
GOOD FRIENDS.
MAY I, FOR THE LAST TIME, PAY HOMAGE TO THE INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS, WITHOUT WHOM THERE COULD HAVE BEEN NO WORLD EXPOSITION. AT THIS, WHICH I PRESUME TO BE BOUQUET TIME, THEY DESERVE TOP BILLING. THEY CAME A LONG WAY - THEY STAYED A LONG TIME - THEY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY - THEY PLAYED THEIR PART MAGNIFICENTLY. THEIR COMING WAS THE CATALYST FOR OTHERS TO JOIN US - THE STATES AND PROVINCES, THE CORPORATIONS, THE WONDERFUL THEME PAVILIONS.
NOTHING CAN REALLY SUCCEED WITHOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT. WHEN THE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY SHAKES OFF ITS PREJUDICES, BORN OF COLONIAL ORIGINS, AND ADOPTS AN EVENT AS FULLY AUSTRALIAN, ITS SUPPORT IS UNIVERSAL AND WHOLE-HEARTED.
RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS CAUSED US TO LOOK OUTWARDS - TO ASSESS MORE CLOSELY OUR TRUE PLACE IN THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM. HOPEFULLY, THROUGH EXPO 88, WE HAVE ACQUIRED JUST A LITTLE MORE OF THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY.
WE, IN THIS, GOD'S OWN COUNTRY, OWE SO MUCH TO SO MANY. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING A PART OF OUR HISTORY - FOR HELPING US ON OUR WAY.
MADAME DEFRENE, I NOW RETURN YOUR FLAG, ENTRUSTED TO OUR CARE AT THE CLOSING OF EXPO 86.
YOUR EXCELLENCY SEIYA NISHIDA, COMMISSIONER-GENERAL OF OSAKA'S EXPO 90, THE NEXT BIE REGISTERED EXPOSITION, PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND ACCEPT THE FLAG FROM MADAME DEFRENE.
YOUR EXCELLENCY AMBASSADOR MANUEL OLIVENCIA, THE COMMISSIONER-GENERAL OF THE NEXT UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION, SEVILLE'S EXPO 92, PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND ACCEPT A BIE FLAG FROM MADAME DEFRENE.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.