This week we were honoured to welcome Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, for a very special visit. It was a great privilege to host a leader whose values of kindness, care and respect, so deeply reflect those we hold at the heart of our school.
The Governor-General’s visit was an opportunity to share the spirit of Warrah with someone who truly understood its importance. She spoke about her younger sister who lives with an intellectual disability, and how much it meant to her to witness a place where every individual is celebrated. “I can tell that this is where care lives,” she said. Her words moved many of us, as did her recognition of how far our society has come in the care of people with disabilities, and her desire to make a difference to Warrah and similar organisations.
She shared that when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited her to take on the role, he shared his vision for the Governor-General to be “modern, optimistic and approachable.” In her time at Warrah, she was all that and more. She reminded us that the Governor-General’s “superpower” is to shine a light on community stories of resilience, challenge and hope. And we are so grateful that she chose to shine that light on us.
She honoured the vision of our founders, Karl and Hannelore Kaltenbach, German immigrants who came to Australia in the 1960s with the dream of creating a truly inclusive, respectful and human-centred community for people with disabilities. She acknowledged their courage and foresight, and the enduring legacy they created when Warrah was formally opened in 1969. Both received Order of Australia Medals for their achievements.
We were also touched by the interest and warmth the Governor-General showed throughout the day. She spent time being introduced to a few of the aspects of our Steiner-based therapeutic curriculum, which make us unique leaders in special education.
Her Excellency joined students for song, storytelling, weaving and morning circle. She shared laughter and conversation with students and staff, before settling in, along with school families, to watch our high school production of The Adventures of William Dampier. She then listened as parents shared personal stories of their experiences at Warrah.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as families shared their real and honest accounts of the positive difference the school has made to their families.
“We feel like we’ve won the lottery by finding Warrah,” one parent shared.
Another said, “It’s the first time we’ve felt truly understood.”
Her Excellency responded with generosity:
“It shouldn’t be based on luck or magic to be provided with a schooling experience like this. What you’ve built at Warrah, the care, the quality, and the dignity, should be what we offer every student, everywhere. This should be what we do in a compassionate society.”
Following the performance and morning tea, Her Excellency toured Warrah’s adult services, biodynamic farm, artisan bakery, and organic farm shop. She asked questions, chatted with participants, and even picked up a few of our fresh organic products from the farm shop. We were very impressed by her genuine interest and care.
It means a great deal for our organisation to be seen, understood and valued by the Governor-General.
Principal Anna Wetzel reflected on the visit with deep gratitude:
“When I first heard the Governor-General’s inauguration speech, I was struck by how deeply it resonated with the values we live and breathe at Warrah. Her Excellency’s statement about care being an uplifting force, and her focus of disability care always being defined by respect and dignity, captures the heart of what we do here. It was a joy to welcome her to our community.”
We offer our thanks to Her Excellency for her warmth, her curiosity, and her belief in the power of care. We would be honoured to continue this connection, and we wish her every success in the important work of her tenure.
At Warrah, we are so proud to share our story, and grateful to those who support us to carry it forward.
