Mr. Premier, Mr. Mayor,

I am most grateful for your invitation to Prince Philip and me to 
visit Bourke.

Flying here this morning has reminded us of the great distances 
between the rural communities in New South Wales. This sense of space
is such a defining feature of the outback. Our visit today is giving 
us the chance to see the ways in which you are reducing those 
distances and strengthening your own community here at Bourke which 
is so very special to you all.

The radio station behind me is an example of this, providing an 
essential link for the town and the surrounding areas. At Bourke 
Public School technology is playing an increasingly important role in
bringing people together through the Internet and the Distance 
Education Programme. I was interested to learn that the rich aspects 
of aboriginal culture are present in all the schools' programmes, and
I have seen for myself the aboriginal language class being conducted 
in the gardens of the radio station. All communities need building 
with patience and understanding in ways such as these.

It has been good to hear also of the vigour and purpose with which 
you are searching for opportunities of bringing employment and 
investment to Bourke and the region. Tourism clearly has an important
part to play and Prince Philip has had a chance to see at first hand 
developments in the cotton and horticultural industries.

These are examples of the ways in which all of you here are drawing
on the legacies and experience of the old and the technology of the 
new to nurture and strengthen your own community of Bourke. It has 
been a great pleasure for us to come here today, to meet many of you 
and to be able to give recognition to the way in which you, and so 
many Australians like you who live not in the cities but in 
Australia's wide open spaces, are contributing to the success of this
great land of Australia.