Queen Elizabeth II - An Icon For Our Times

Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday, September 8. Her memorial service will take place on Thursday, September 22 and the day has been declared a public holiday in Australia to mourn her passing. People are invited to submit a personal condolence message online or at parliamentary offices around the country.

To the Editor,

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will always be remembered as a wonderful and gracious person.

A true icon of our times.

Her Majesty has been a mainstay in a period of great change in human history and her loss will be felt for a very long time.

I extend my deepest sympathies to the Royal Family who have lost a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother.

From 6 February 1952 until her death today, the Queen dedicated her life to serving her country and the collective Commonwealth community - some 25,782 days - the longest serving monarch in British history. She was just 25 years old when she began her reign.

The Queen visited Australia 16 times during her reign and clearly showed an affection for our country and its people which was certainly reflected in many hearts and minds of Australians.

Early in her service to the Commonwealth, the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, visited Wagga Wagga on Saturday, 13 February 1954 and was welcomed by thousands lining Wagga Wagga’s streets and Bolton Park to catch a glimpse of the much-loved Queen of Australia.

It was but a mere 145-minute visit but the young Sovereign left an indelible mark on a grateful city and wider region.

As editor of The Daily Advertiser, I had the great privilege to meet the Queen on 21 March 2000 whilst she was in Sydney.

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