Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of New South Wales, and Dennis Wilson will be visiting the Hunter region between Saturday, March 13 and Tuesday, March 16.
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The Governor said: "We are looking forward to meeting the people of the Hunter, hearing how COVID-19 has impacted this vibrant and diverse area, and celebrating the many achievements of communities."
Among events in a packed four-day program, the Governor and Mr Wilson will meet with Murrurundi's Doing it for Our Farmers and visit the Michael Reid Gallery. In the evening, the Governor, as Patron, will present an award at the Keep Australia Beautiful (NSW) Sustainable Communities - Tidy Towns Awards Dinner.
In Scone, the Vice Regal couple will tour the White Park Equine Complex, meet with First Scone Scout Group and Girl Guides, and attend a Community Lunch with farmers in Gundy.
A Commemorative Address at Muswellbrook Cenotaph to recognise veterans of Vietnam, Timor and Afghanistan will be followed by the laying of the Foundation Stone for the Upper Hunter Innovation Hub's Donald Horne Building and a meeting with the Wanaruah Local Aboriginal Land Council.
The Governor and Mr Wilson will conclude their program with a Remembrance ceremony at Kearsley for local men and women who served in the Second World War; visiting Shine for Kids, of which the Governor and Mr Wilson are Patrons, before touring Iron Gate Estate to gain a deeper understanding of the current challenges for the wine industry in the area.
On the Monday the Governor will lay the Foundation Stone for the Donald Horne Building.
The new building will be home to the Upper Hunter Innovation Hub and a primary and secondary school 'makerspace' designed to excite the interest of primary and secondary school students, from all local schools, in creative or applied STEM.
The late Donald Horne, AO was raised in Muswellbrook and the town provided much of the literary backdrop for his work The Education of Young Donald (1967). Mr Horne's family will be present for the laying of the Foundation Stone and the commencement of construction.
The Donald Horne Building, at 140 Bridge Street in Muswellbrook, will be connected by a glass air-bridge to Loxton House and be situated next to Weidmann Cottage, both of which are State Heritage listed buildings.
The building has been designed by Sydney-based architects Collins and Turner to be sensitive to the heritage importance of the adjoining buildings whilst providing a striking new space in Muswellbrook's town centre.
