THE VISION
Sir William Deane, saw the potential of this garden area – foreseeing its transformation from a nondescript collection of shrubs with an ugly cyclone wire fence and a set of steps which ended in a semi-permanent pool of muddy water.
The Bravery Garden keys into important aspects of our national life – in particular the act of placing the interests of others before self.
The positioning of the message plaques emphasises the Southern Cross, and in so doing establishes the link with our great southern land and the values that we hold dear as Australians.
Through drought, bushfires and other natural disasters, defending freedom, offering assistance at home and abroad, we have always believed in helping people in need; it’s part and parcel of our national ethos.
And much of that help has been by way of acts of great bravery, involving high personal risk of injury or even death.
The Bravery Garden stands out conspicuously as a place to remind us all, of the courage (both physical and moral) displayed by many in our community, and affirms our deep respect for the critical and generous choice they have made in ‘not looking the other way’, often in times of considerable danger.

Many thousands of visitors to Government House wander through this garden, take in the messages on the stone pillars, and seek the support and comfort the jarrah benches provide, as they spend time in personal reflection. As surely as any grand monument, this simple, quiet garden conveys, in a most enduring way, a nation’s respect and gratitude for the bravery of Australians.

THE PURPOSE OF THE BRAVERY GARDEN
In remembrance for future generations the text remains carved into the highly polished black granite with each letter highlighted in gold leaf. The transcript below is from the west stone within in the bravery garden :-
THIS GARDEN IS DEDICATED TO BRAVE AUSTRALIANS

BASED ON THE SOUTHERN CROSS ITS MESSAGE 

STONES DEPICT THE AUSTRALIAN MILITARY AND

CIVIL BRAVERY DECORATIONS COMMEMORATE

THOSE WHOSE BRAVERY COST THEM THEIR LIVES  

AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNTLESS ACTS  

OF BRAVERY THAT REMAIN UNKNOWN

THESE WHOLLY AUSTRALIAN AWARDS    

CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF THE PREVIOUS    

IMPERIAL DECORATIONS, INCLUDING THE    

VICTORIA CROSS AND THE GEORGE CROSS,     

 AWARDED TO AUSTRALIANS FOR    

BRAVERY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE  

WORLD WARS AND OTHER      

CONFLICTS IN WHICH         

AUSTRALIANS TOOK PART

Extract from the Order of Service:-

Annual Service of Remembrance Bravery Institute of Australia by Honorary Chaplain The Venerable Dr Royce Thompson Air Commodore :-

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be complete.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John: 15:9 – 13 (NRSV)