The North West has been charmed by the new Governor-General David Hurley and his wife Linda.
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Just 11 days after take the office over from Peter Cosgrove, the new Governor-General flew from Sydney to Cloncurry on Thursday.
There he had a briefing on the flood recovery at council chambers, went to the Stockmans Challenge at the Equestrian Centre, paid a visit to a nearby property at Fisher Creek, a town tour and then met other members of the community at an afternoon tea on the Cloncurry lookout.
After his visit Mr and Mrs Hurley boarded a train for the three hour trip to Julia Creek.
There they will attend events in town on Friday including a trip to the Julia Creek Hospital and he will be the guest of honour at a thank you dinner for flood recovery at Julia Creek Civic Centre on Friday night.
The North West Star caught up with the Governor-General when he arrived at the Cloncurry Equestrian Centre on Thursday afternoon.
The occasion was the second day of the Stockman's Challenge, one of the region's premier equestrian events especially poignant since the devastating floods in February.
After meeting Stockman's president Cheyne Williams and wife Casey of Clonagh station, Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell introduced the Governor-General to dignitaries such as Robbie Katter MP, Carpentaria Mayor Jack Bawden and Mount Isa deputy mayor Phil Barwick before meeting with members of the community.
The Governor-General then donned a Cloncurry Lions apron along with wife Linda and they both helped the Lions serve up a barbecue to those present before enjoying a well-earned sausage themselves.
Mayor Greg Campbell said one of the Governor-General's first official visits after taking on the role barely 10 days ago was to the North West and the friendliest town in Queensland.
"It's a fair contrast from Government House in Canberra to Cloncurry and Julia Creek but like all our guests we are more than happy to showcase what the area has been through and what potential it has, and what we can do with a bit of a hand," Cr Campbell said.
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