Christmas Broadcast 1959

I have been warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice.

St. Paul reminds us that all Christians, as ambassadors for Christ, are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation.

It is through this lens of history that we should view the conflicts of today, and so give us hope for tomorrow.

At Christmas I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story.

Being united - that is, feeling a unity of purpose - is the glue that bonds together the members of a family, a country, a Commonwealth.

All great religions have such times of renewal, moments to take stock before moving on to face the challenges which lie ahead.

My hope this Christmas is that the Christian spirit of reconciliation may burn as strongly in our hearts during the coming year.

In the United Kingdom we have our own particular sorrows in Northern Ireland and I want to send a special message of sympathy to all those men, women and children who have...

My message today is one of encouragement and hope.

Then Christmas comes, and once again we are reminded that people matter, and it is our relationship with one another that is most important.

For every poppy a life; and a reminder of the grief of loved ones left behind.

We are forever grateful to all those who put themselves at risk to keep us safe.

The Church has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths in this country

Right around the world, people gather to compete under standard rules and, in most cases, in a spirit of friendly rivalry.

At the heart of our faith stand not a preoccupation with our own welfare and comfort but the concepts of service and of sacrifice.

Your Holiness, your presence here today reminds us of our common Christian heritage, and of the Christian contribution to the encouragement of world peace.

It is my duty to seek to remain true to the interests of Australia and all Australians as we enter the twenty-first century.

I am confident that this diverse Commonwealth of nations can strengthen the common bond that transcends politics, religion, race and economic circumstances.

When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.

My grandfather, father, husband and two sons have all undergone training here, and I have had many visits over the years.

The Christmas story also draws attention to all those people who are on the edge of society

The birth of a baby brings great happiness - but then the business of growing up begins.

As Groucho Marx once said "Anyone can get old - all you have to do is to live long enough". And there are in my view many other anniversaries this year which are more...

These natural and human tragedies provided the headline news; they also provoked a quite remarkable humanitarian response.

When limitless amounts of information, much of it ephemeral, are instantly accessible on demand, there is a renewed hunger for that which endures and gives meaning.

I remember the bonfires along the coastline as we arrived and the enthusiastic welcome we received as guests of your grandfather, King Haakon.

Everyone is our neighbour, no matter what race, creed or colour.

Separation at this time is especially hard to bear.