Local leaders mourn Queen Elizabeth II

CIVIC leaders from across Geelong have mourned the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on Friday last week (Australian time).

The Queen was Britain’s longest-living and longest-reigning monarch, and passed away at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle at the age of 96 with her son, Prince Charles – now King Charles III – at her side.

Speaking shortly after her death, Deputy Prime Minister and Corio federal member Richard Marles said Queen Elizabeth’s life had been one of “unparalleled service”

“There’s a sense in which her life has marked our lives. And for most of the population, we’ve only ever known the Elizabethan age. So, there is a real sense that this is a very significant moment, I think, in our work. We have a sense of the significance of moments in time and this is one which is very large indeed.”

Corangamite federal member Libby Coker signed the Parliament of Australia condolence book for Queen Elizabeth on Friday last week.

“My comments reflected the views being expressed across the nation and the world – the Queen has been a compassionate, stabilising force in our lives for so long, for which we owe her our considerable gratitude,” Ms Coker said.

“I provide my deepest condolences to the Royal Family.”

She said anyone who wanted to pay their respects could do so online at pmc.gov.au/condolence-form or visit her office in Armstrong Creek and sign a hardcopy condolence book during office hours.

Member for Western Victoria and patron of the Victorian Young Monarchists Bev McArthur said she was saddened deeply by the Queen’s passing.

“Even at 96 years it seemed the Queen of Australia, of the Commonwealth – our Queen – would always be there, because for so many of us she has always been there.

“For 70 years Queen Elizabeth II has been a symbol of consistency – the quintessential model of devotion, bravery, strength, stoicism, selflessness, of quiet dignity and humility.

“She has been our true north.”

On Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a public holiday had been declared for Thursday, September 22, three days after the royal funeral in London, to coincide with a national memorial service.

Federal Parliament has been suspended until February 23, and state Parliament has adjourned for a week and will resume on Tuesday, September 20.

Charles III has made 16 trips to Australia, including in 1966 at the age of 16 for two terms at Geelong Grammar, which he revisited in 1974 and 2005.

THE QUEEN’S LIFE IN NUMBERS

• Queen Elizabeth II was the 40th monarch in England since Norman King William the Conqueror obtained the crown
• Her reign of 70 years, seven months and two days was the longest in the history of what became the United Kingdom. During that time she gave her assent to more than 4,000 Acts of Parliament
• Elizabeth visited well over 100 countries during her reign. In 2016, Buckingham Palace said she had travelled at least 1,661,668km to 117 nations. She paid the most visits to Canada
• She had 15 prime ministers, starting with Winston Churchill through to Liz Truss (who she appointed only two days before her death). During her reign there were 14 US presidents and seven popes
• She had four children (Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward), eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren
• She sent more than 300,000 congratulatory cards to people celebrating their 100th birthdays, and more than 900,000 messages to couples marking their diamond (60th) wedding anniversaries
• She loved dogs and owned more than 30 Corgis and Dorgis during her reign, most of which have been descended from her first Corgi, Susan, which was given to Elizabeth when she turned 18 in 1944.