The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II marks the passing of an era.
Her Majesty had a long and dutiful life, and I am confident that historians will describe her reign as magnificent.
Queen Elizabeth II was the first reigning monarch to visit Australia in 1954.
In anticipation of that visit, the then Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, introduced the Royal Style and Titles Act to put beyond doubt that she was Queen of Australia.
She visited every state and territory in that three month-long tour, including the electorate of Wannon.
Older residents may remember the excitement of the visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to Hamilton on 26 February 1954 and Portland on 7 April 1970.
Throughout her long reign, the Queen showed a great affection for all parts of Australia including rural and regional areas.
She visited sixteen times and appointed an Australian as her private secretary.
She and Prince Philip also chose to send their eldest son, now King Charles III, to school at Timbertop in Victoria.
I am sure we all extend our sympathy to the King and the Royal Family. They have lost a loved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
And we honour Her Majesty’s service, and we are reminded of the words in the Coronation Service, that we will think of our late Sovereign with ‘happy memory.’
A condolence book is available at my Electorate Offices in Hamilton and Warrnambool.
Information about commemorative events being held at Parliament House is available on the Parliament House website www.aph.gov.au.
