Sir Peter told disability clients it was great to be “greeted with so many smiling faces”.

The Vietnam veteran arrived about noon with staff and security.

While he was not keen to answer questions, he was not camera shy during a visit that also involved a trip to Wooragee, Beechworth and Wangaratta.

Murray Valley Centre chief David Martin, himself a Vietnam veteran, took the opportunity to have his copy of Cosgrove, Portrait of a Leader signed.

It was not the first time the pair had met.

“I met him when he was chief of the army,” Mr Martin said.

“He’s a proven commander of people.

“He went to Vietnam as a lieutenant and got up through the ranks to became the chief of the defence force.

“We have a bit in common because he went to Innisfail after Cyclone Larry for the reconstruction and I come from Cairns.”

Mr Martin said it was great to see Sir Peter interacting with the Murray Valley clients.

“He’s taking his time to talk and they are all pretty happy,” he said.

“It’s not often you get a visit from the Governor-General.”

Sir Peter’s visit, which continues today at Benalla, Mansfield, Yea and Kinglake, was at the invitation of Indi MP Cathy McGowan.

Ms McGowan said the visit came six years after the 2009 bushfires and its theme of recovery and resilience was an important part of the trip to Beechworth, Yea and Kinglake.