COTA SA is pleased to announce that Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, and her husband, Mr. Rod Bunten, have accepted COTA SA’s invitation to be its Patrons.
COTA SA President, Emeritus Professor Anne Edwards AO, said the patronage of Her Excellency and Mr Bunten showed support for COTA SA’s vital work in advocating for older South Australians, leading the way in looking ahead to the future and considering how people might better embrace and value older lives.
“In taking on the role of COTA SA Patron, Her Excellency elevates our work in ensuring the voices of older South Australians are heard, respected and valued,” Professor Edwards said.
“On behalf of everyone at COTA SA, we thank Her Excellency and Mr. Bunten for accepting our invitation and we look forward to our relationship with them.”
Her Excellency is a proud sixth-generation South Australian, a graduate of the University of Adelaide. She has worked as an advisor to the Prime Minister and an Australian Diplomat. She was Australia’s Ambassador to China from 2011 to 2015. She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to public administration.
Mr Bunten is a graduate of the University of Oxford who joined the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, working as a diplomat. His second career was as a secondary school teacher of physics and mathematics.
On the work of COTA SA, Her Excellency said that, as both she and Mr Bunten have reached the milestone of their 60s, it “has been a prompt to look ahead to our future and how we wish to approach it”.
“It is very important to us that all South Australians have the opportunity to reach their potential and live fulfilling, meaningful lives – no matter their age or background,” Her Excellency said.
“We congratulate COTA SA on working boldly to reframe the way South Australians age, creating new images and expectations for people in their older years.”
COTA SA wishes to thank Hieu Van Le AC, South Australia’s 35th Governor, for his backing of COTA SA as the previous Patron.
“The fact that each South Australian Governor has recognised patronage of COTA SA as a priority speaks to the importance of our work with older South Australians.”
For media interviews or more information, please contact:
Bec Tape – rtape@communikate.net.au or 0438 806 983
Amy Noonan – anoonan@communikate.net.au or 0421 614 955