For Radiothon 2024, we were excited to welcome His Excellency The Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, the Governor of Western Australia, into the studio! He joined Bec and Lauren to explore his most memorable moments in office, the positive changes he’s witnessed across the state, and his inspiring vision for building a more connected community.

Honouring Service Across WA

The Governor reflected on some of his most memorable moments in the role. “Probably the best thing about the job is you are honouring and recognising people and organisations from around our great state,” he shared. “That’s really the best part of the job because you are thanking on behalf of the community.”

He recounted stories of remarkable individuals, like 100-year-old Bill Ivory, who volunteered for 63 years, teaching at-risk children to box without accepting a single penny. A professional boxer after WWII, Bill dedicated himself to helping others. “I said, ‘Why did you do this, Bill? Because this is great.’ I was expecting him to say, ‘Look, I wanted them to be able to look after themselves.’ He didn’t say that—he just said, ‘I wanted to give them hope and confidence.’”

Another inspiring story involved a 10-year-old Ukrainian refugee who saved a friend from drowning at Hillary’s Boat Harbor. “She’s come from conflict to live in a great country such as Australia and then have a situation where she’s now saved a classmate’s life.”

The Positive Impact of Volunteers

His Excellency has many opportunities to connect with community organisations and witness positive initiatives across the state. One example is the outstanding contribution of volunteers at organisations like Surf Life Saving WA, where over 22,000 volunteers willingly patrol beaches and run programs. “They give up their time willingly, and so that is a great example of where people are giving as opposed to taking,” he shared.

On an individual level, Governor Dawson highlighted Pat Bull, who established a St Vincent de Paul collection point as a teenager and continues to operate it well into her 90s. When honouring individuals and organisations like these, the Governor noted their unwavering humility. “The first thing they say to me, in front of four or five hundred people, is, ‘Oh, I really didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want this. Why me?’ which reflects that humility but also their spirit of giving.“

Building A Better WA

When asked about ways to make WA even better, the Governor, a former police commissioner with the Western Australia Police Force, highlighted the importance of road safety. He stressed the tragic consequences of ignoring basic advice such as wearing seat belts and avoiding speeding. “It sounds like a broken record, but it is such an important thing to drill into your family, to your friends, to your work colleagues, to your mates. Just listen to that sort of advice, ” he said.

He also emphasised the need to monitor young people’s use of smart devices, as online bullying can severely impact their well-being. “We know kids get bullied online, and that affects their self-esteem, relationships, and all those sorts of things.”

The Governor further shared his belief in the power of celebrating positive contributions. He encouraged people to recognise and honour those making a difference in the community. “I think there’s a moment where we can celebrate and honour those bodies, institutions, teachers, and others who are doing great things for our community. It’s about uplifting and honouring those who are doing good, rather than just pulling things down.“

Wholeheartedly Connected

This year’s Radiothon theme, “Wholeheartedly Connected,” inspired Governor Dawson to reflect on what a truly connected WA community might look like. He shared a timeless lesson: “Treat others as you’d like to be treated…I think that is a basic human tenet that we can still reinforce all the time, and it runs across all strata of society. So, if we’re better connected and we treat others as we would want to be treated, we’re going to be a better community for it.”

Governor Chris Dawson also invited everyone to Government House Open Day on December 14th and 15th, from 3 to 7 PM. The event will feature Santa, Christmas Carols, plenty of food options from Perth’s consular corps, live music, obstacle courses, tours, and more. “It’s a free family fun time at Government House,” he said, encouraging everyone to join the festivities.

Listen to the full conversation below.