Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and President, Members of the University Council, Mr. Bob Scheuber (Sh-EYE-ber), Deans, CQU Staff, Honoured Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen and fellow graduates.

We have come here today to celebrate an important milestone in our careers, an important milestone in our lives. Today is the end of one journey and the beginning of another. A number of years ago, we all embarked on one of our biggest endeavours by stepping into university life. Many challenges have since been thrown our way including last minute assignments, grueling exams and most importantly the challenges of balancing family life and friends, work and study. For many of us there was the challenge of adopting a new lifestyle, being away from loved ones and for others it was the challenge of returning to study after many years in the work force. But take a look at us now, we have survived! Today proves that we have more than embraced these challenges; we have conquered them and taken the necessary steps to fulfill a successful future.

Over the past couple of years CQU has been preparing us for this very day by helping us grow as individuals. It has also provided us with the knowledge and skills that we need to take the next step. I believe that CQU has provided us with the opportunity to experience an environment of diversity and community spirit for which we should be grateful. We stand here today united as a graduating class and to be celebrated, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank the friends and family of all the graduates here today. I would also especially like to thank those staff that went above and beyond their duties to assist us. Without the support of these special groups many of us wouldn’t be here today, so thank you all very much.

And finally I would like to finish today with a quote from Walt Disney, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”. I hope you all have the courage to continue this journey and make all your dreams come true.