We see Sir William Deane at the official residence in Canberra and in Parliament and travelling throughout Australia and the world as the Australian head of state – or perhaps more accurately the representative of HM The Queen of Australia.
Sir William takes a trip to two outback communities in remote Central Australia and to Gallipoli on Anzac Day. He goes to Windsor Castle where he meets the Queen, and we accompany him on an official State visit to Ireland — the first by an Australian Governor-General. The year of 1999 was not just any year, it was twelve months during which a debate took place as to whether our constitution should be altered to replace the Governor-General with a President and a new Republic of Australia. This film makes a significant contribution not only to this ongoing debate but also to a better understanding of the historic and contemporary roles of the Governor-General.
