The death of Britain’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has sent shockwaves across the world, with Western Australia no less affected.
The Queen visited Australia 16 times during her 70 years on the throne, and WA seven times — the last time when she was 85-years-old in October 2011, dubbed her “farewell tour.”
Her last days on Australian soil were spent attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, hosted by Prime Minister at the time Julia Gillard.
During that visit she was also the special guest of the Great Aussie Barbecue, which saw 120,000 West Australians descend on the former Esplanade park in the Perth CBD to share a sausage sizzle with her.
Colin Barnett, who was West Australian premier at the time of the Queen’s last visit and met her several times during it, said the Queen’s dedication to her role was clear.
“I was amazed at how hard the Queen and Prince Philip worked, I mean, not only meeting virtually all the leaders of the Commonwealth nations individually, and the CHOGM events, the opening and so on, they also did a lot around Perth on all sorts of visits,” he said.
Barnett fondly remembers the Queen’s humour at the state reception for her at Government House.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth ll and Premier Colin Barnett. Credit:Getty Images
“I presented the Queen with a beautiful book with botanical drawings by Philippa Nikulinsky, and she was quite taken with that,” he said.
“But when I was announcing it, I sort of fumbled on the name. Prince Philip said, ‘there she is’ she was right down in front and someone yelled out, ‘Nikulinsky!’.
“Then I sat down and I was sitting next to the Queen while the rest of the ceremony was going on, and about three minutes later, she just leant across right into my face and said, ‘one of those difficult names wasn’t it’.”
Malcolm McCusker, who was Governor during the CHOGM visit, told Radio 6PR he had first seen the Queen in person when he was just a schoolboy, watching on as she proceeded in a cavalcade down Stirling Highway.
He said he “never had the faintest idea” he would sit down for lunch with her and the Duke.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh are farewelled by Governor of Western Australia Malcolm McCusker.Credit:Getty Images
“When she and the Duke arrived and proceeded to Government House, the streets were lined with people cheering and clapping,” he said.
“We met her at the steps, that’s my wife, Tanya, and my three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Mary, who presented her with a bouquet, and she was very charming.
“We were honoured to have lunch, just the four of us on one occasion, with her and the Duke and during that lunch, she spoke in a very friendly and disarming way.
“There was nothing pompous about either her or the Duke. She spoke about the fondness that she’d had for Western Australia.”
McCusker said the Queen had been interested in learning about the medical research which WA was conducting at the time.
“When she returned to England, she sent me a beautiful, handwritten one-page letter thanking us. That’s not just me and my wife, but Western Australia, for the time that she had here, the wonderful welcome she’d received from Perth,” he said.
While Queen Elizabeth’s visits to WA are etched into the memory of many West Australians, a physical presence remains.
Elizabeth Quay was named in her honour as the site of the Great Aussie BBQ and a red gum tree planted by the Queen during her visit in March 1954 stands tall in King’s Park.
Premier Mark McGowan said: “on behalf of the people of Western Australia, I extend our deepest sympathies to the Royal Family as they grieve the loss of the Queen.
“The Late Majesty has been a tower of strength ever since she became Queen at the age of 25 after her father passed away in 1952,” he said.
“During her 70-year reign she has been a constant presence during an era of great change in her kingdom and around the world.
“Most Western Australians have never known another monarch … she led the Commonwealth through some of the darkest days and will forever be an inspiration to the world and Western Australia.
“As we mourn her passing, more information will be released shortly on how Western Australians can pay tribute. May she rest in peace.”
Shadow defence minister and WA MP Andrew Hastie said the Queen was a woman of strength, humility and duty.
“Like many Australians, I grew up conscious of her quiet presence,” he said.
“As a boy, I studied her dignity and grace. At the dinner table, my mother would urge us to eat as if Her Majesty was seated with us.
“As a man, I gladly took an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty both as a soldier and as a Parliamentarian.
“Along with many Australians, I feel great loss at her passing but also deep gratitude for the service that she gave as our Sovereign Lady.”
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