REMEMBERING Queen Elizabeth II 1926 2022 L I S M O R E C B D M A G A Z I N E S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 Australian Royal Tour 1954 Lismore Memorial Edition
Numerous official photographs were taken in Buckingham Palace after the Coronation, but the most memorable are those taken by Cecil Beaton. For his defining image he posed The Queen in front of a backdrop depicting Henry VII's Chapel in Westminster Abbey.
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In 1937, the 11 year old Princess Elizabeth had watched her father, King George VI, crowned in the elaborate ceremony and 16 years later Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne on 6 February 1952 when she was 25 years old. On 2 June 1953, her own official coronation was to take place. Since the Coronation, The Queen has worn the Coronation dress six times including the Opening of Parliament in New Zealand and Australia in 1954. S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 3
The ball gown, cinched at the waist with capped sleeves and a heart shaped neckline, practically glows thanks to the multitude of pearls, crystals and sequins embroidered using gold and silver silk threads onto the ivory duchesse satin over eight painstaking months.
A step closer, and it becomes apparent that the embellishments trace a gleaming outline of English roses, Scottish thistles, Welsh leeks and Irish shamrocks on the fold on the stiff skirt where they mingle with Canadian maple leaves, New Zealand silver ferns, Australian wattles and South African protea. Forget a trouser suit or sky high stiletto. Female leaders in search of a sartorial model need look no further than this gown: power dressing at its most literal. It was wearing this dress, with her nation’s history stitched atop her hemline, that Queen Elizabeth II took to the British throne in 1953, sending a message from the monarchy via her appearance that was broadcast to millions all over the world watching the moment on TV.
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Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 7 Lismore Tuesday9thFebruary7:00pm HerMajestyandHisRoyalHighness arriveatLismore Wednesday10thFebruary 10amRoyalProgressCivicReception 11.15amDepartureforCasino
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L I S M O R E C B D M A G A Z I N E S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 REMEMBERING QUEEN ELIZABETH II 1926 2022 Memorial Edition
Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 10 Australian Women's Weekly. 03 February 1954,.
The State Library’s collections relating to the 1954 Royal tour.
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On 3 February 1954, Queen Elizabeth II became the first reigning British monarch to visit Australia and sailed into Sydney Harbour on 3 February 1954 and it was during this visit that The Queen dedicated the Shrine’s Second World War Memorial Forecourt on 28 February. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and H.R.H. Duke of Edinburgh smilingly receive prominent citizens at the landing pontoon in Farm Cove, Sydney. The Prime Minister (Mr. R.G. Menzies) is in the background. February 3, 1954. Speaking into the microphone, the hushed crowd heard her say “Greater Love Hath no Man” and then she pressed a button that ignited the Eternal Flame. The flame has burnt ever since.
S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 13 Vintage The Royal Visit to Australia 1954 School Children's Souvenir Booklet. The 16 page booklet measures approximately 18cm x 12cm.
Lismore Royal Tour
L I S M O R E C B D M A G A Z I N E
1954
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R o y a l C e l e b r a t i o n s i n L i s m o r e D i s t r i c t
Commemorating the Royal Golden Jubilee and the visit to Lismore on 9-10 February 1954 of Queen Elizabeth II
THE COUNTRY NSW TOUR
A whirlwind schedule saw Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visiting country New South Wales.
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address of welcome to the Queen, which is beautifully bound in dark green morocco leather, with gold plate of the City's Coat of Arms on the front cover. The inside depicts flora and fauna of the surrounding district and some watercolour sketches of the city and local industries.
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Lismore's
Produced with the main object of providing a. background for commentators of the Australian Broadcasting Commission who will describe the Royal visit, the historical data and the re-created atmosphere of the early days, will no doubt prove of absorbing interest to North Coast residents.
The booklet deals first with the discovery of p'tTwmTowBRg'ggtAtotheFarNorthCoastin1770andadescriptionfthenatives,theirmodeoflifeandreactionsotheintrusionsofthewhiteman.nearlysettler,JamesAinsworth,describeshenativesontheLowerRichmondas"simple,ood-heartedandfriendlypeople,whowouldenerouslygiveanythingtheypossessedtothewhitefeller'ShorthistoricalpenpicturesareivenofthemainplacesontherouteoftheoyalprocessionGundurimba,Coraki,ungawalbyn,WoodburnandEvansHead—hilstmoredetaileddescriptionsareprovidedfLismoreandCasino.heoriginalstationsinthedistrictarealsoentionedinsomedetail.Thepublicationisaorthysouvenirofagreatoccasion.hejournalisfolioedVolumeThreetofollowhesequenceofpublicationsbytheoriginalsociety.Itisonsaleatallbooksellersat3/6ercopy.
The publication has been produced to commemorate the' visit to the Far North Coast next week of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.
NorthernStar(Lismore) Thursday4February1954.
RAnhistoricalsketchoftheRichmondiverdistrict,placingemphasisontherouteoftheRoyalprocessionbetweenLismoreandCasino,hasbeencompiledbytheRichmondRiverHistoricalSociety.
HISTORICAL SKETCH FOR ROYAL TOUR
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Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 19 TeOneoftheimpressivedisplaysrectedinLismoreaspartoftheRoyalTourdecorations.hedisplayfeaturestheLismoreCityCouncilCrest.
Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 20 The Northern Star Lismore, Wednesday, February 10, 1954.
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Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 23 Welcome messages appearing in the Northern Star in February 1954.
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Some are lavish and some simple, but all add their touch of colour to the overall scheme. Many residents adjacent to the Royal progress route have decorated their houses and some in the outlying suburbs far away from the Royal route, have demonstrated their loyalty and affectionwithfestoonsofflagsandbunting.
There has never been such a a spectacle in Lismore on a Sunday night. The crowds were even denser than on Friday and Saturday nights. Traffic jams occurred as cars crawled round the streets bursting with people gesticulating at the coloured lights, flags, streamers, emblems and bunting.
City Crowded Last night thousands of sight seers crowded the main centre of Lismore to admire the decorations. They crowded the footpaths and shop fronts, and everyone was talking about the Royal visit.
South Lismore has been transformed during the weekend. A huge welcome and fare well sign has been erected on the railway viaduct, and from there to the railway gates Union Street is a profusion of flags, bunting and streamers.
The food stalls will be numerous and dispersed throughout the main centre of the town and nearby streets. In Lismore 10,000 extra loaves of bread have been baked; an additional 10,000 dozen bottles of cordial have been made; 1,600 dozen meat pies have been made. Other additional supplies are 5,000 saveloys, 750 lb. Frankfurt's and 1250 lb. pressed meat. AND the decorations!
At times cars were jammed bumper bar to bumper bar along the whole length of the main streets. Many of the cars were decorated with streamers and flags. Molesworth Street, the main centre of attraction, was a glittering spectacle of thousands of coloured lights, huge flags, illuminated cyphers arid emblems. Towering above them all was the "piece de resistance," the huge glittering St. Edward's Crown.
A model of the Royal progress route in Lismore displayed in a motor trader's window in Keen Street attracted hundreds of people, who blocked the footpath for several yards. Every shop in the main shopping centre of Lismore has decorated its premises.
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Bakers have baked great quantities of extra bread, cordial manufacturers have' produced many thousands of bottles of cordials and mountains of meat pies, saveloys pressed meat and other foods have been prepared.
Thousands more will come from Murwillumbah and other centres on the Tweed and the Clarence. Hundreds will travel over 500 miles from distant centres in the Tablelands. And everyone is hoping and praying it will not rain.
These have taken weeks of planning by a central committee assisted by numerous sub committees. Lismore's main decorations were undertaken by Lismore City Council.
Slowly travelling motorists caused several traffic "snarls" in the main block last night as drivers almost stopped to admire the decorations on the awnings of shops and public buildings.
Many hundreds of city and district people flocked the main streets to see the bright and colourful decorations.
Gaily coloured bunting is suspended between each row of light bulbs. The work is still to be completed on the coloured illuminations in Magellan and Keen Streets. The enthusiasm of the people is mounting with the Royal visit only three days away.
A centre of attraction in Molesworth Street is a hanging garden erected on the awning of one of the large department stores. An illuminated crown is the centre piece of the garden and fresh and artificial flowers and palms are arranged in a natural growth order.
It was again illuminated last night. Among the crowd looking at the decorations last night were the children from the North Coast Children's Home. They will have an excellent view of the Queen when she arrives at Oakes Oval on Wednesday morning at a special point which has been allotted to them.
Saturday 6 February 1954.
almLismoreStreetsCrowdedLismore'sainblockbecameafairylandlastnightwhenthousandsofcolouredightsandsmallflagsweresuspendedcrossthemainstreetsasanadditiontothecrown,whichisaspectacularhighlightofthecity'sRoyaltourdecorations.
Footpath space was at a premium as people admired the shop window decorations. Carnival Test People flocked to the banks of the river to see the illuminations which were being tested near the Water Brigade and Rowing Club Hall for the Venetian carnival on Tuesday night. said church leaders yesterday afternoon. In all churches on Sunday special sermons will be given on the spiritual significance of the Queen's visit to her people in the Dominions.
Northern Rivers County Council and Lismore City Council men worked all day yesterday erecting the thousands of globes which are suspended across the streets.
The Mayor, Ald. R. Granger, said last night that excellent work had been done on the decorations at the entrance to the city in South Lismore. Work on the erection of street decorations was progressing most speedily and numerous welcome signs were in position. He commended the committee set up in South Lismore for the good work it was doing with the materials the council had made available.
The flowers will be changed daily until Tuesday. Biggest traffic jam was on the low-level bridge about 7.45 p.m., when a stream of traffic stretched from the Molesworth and Woodlark Streets intersection to the bridge over Leycester Creek. Pedestrians hampered traffic attempting to park in the central parking areas.
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Northern Star (Lismore).
LISMORE FAIRYLAND
Tests of the lighting throughout the city and at the Water Brigade have proved satisfactory. The St. Edward Crown, at the intersection of Molesworth and Woodlark Streets, which suffered several minor electrical defaults in rain late on Thursday night, was repaired yesterday.
SCENE IN ROYAL VISIT DECORATIONS
MAYOR'S TRIBUTE
FLOWERS TO FORM COLOUR PATTERN About120boxesofflowerswillbeplacedaboutlampstandardsinstreetsinthemainshoppingblockinLismoreonMondaynight. The flowers will follow a colour pattern. In GFRMcLThtaaThpuMcfMolesworthandKeenStreets,red,whiteandbluelowerswillbeplacedaroundthestandardsoneolourtoastandard—andinWoodlarkandagellanStreets,theflowerswillbegoldandrple.eredflowerswillbecelosiaandsalvia;whitelyssum;blue,torenia;gold,miniaturemarigolds;ndpurple,petunias.Councilworkmenwillplaceheboxesaroundthestandards.eflowersweregrownbymembersoftheismoreHorticulturalSociety.MemberswhoommencedgrowingtheflowersinOctoberwere:essrs.R.Ramsay,S.Fisher,W.Harley,E.G.ogers,R.DeqingandA.FletcherandMesdames.Wahlstrom,F.Kehoe,R.Kibble,J.ArnettandE..Rogers. NorthernStar(Lismore) Friday5February1954.
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Small flags wave and a huge Saint Edwards crown looms over Molesworth Street.
Northern Star (Lismore).
He commented on the work that the Main Roads Department had done on the completion of the high level bridge over Wilson's Creek. He said that the erection of the antiglare lights on the bridge would add to its attractiveness when the Queen drove over it.
Work will be carried out on other buildings throughout the weekend in an effort to have decorations completed for the opening of business on Monday.
Complicated plans have been drawn up to ensure that every pressman is on the spot to cover every aspect of the visit.
CATERING TO THE CROWDS
Complex planning has also been necessary for the 54 visiting pressmen who are coming to Lismore and Casino to tell the world about the Royal visit.
Starting on Tuesday after noon, arrangements have been made to provide a 24 hour round the clock service of food in Lismore.
Saturday 6 February 1954.
"The approaches will be very gay and will give the Queen a wonderful impression of Lismore as she drives through Union Street, the gateway to Lismore," said Ald. Granger.
The band led a long stream of traffic to the intersection of Molesworth and Magellan Streets. Ingenious methods have been devised by many city business houses to hang their decorations. A group yesterday used a bus as a mobile stage for the erection of their decorations.
No special church services have been arranged for the day of the Queen's official visit to Lismore.
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Special floodlights will add to the illumination on the bridge for the night of the Queen's arrival. "The co operation between the different staffs of the Government offices in Lismore in the arrangement of their decorations has been inspiring," said Aid. Granger. Shortly after 9 p.m. Lismore Highland Pipe Band swung along Woodlark and Molesworth Streets.
Northern Star (Lismore).
The bus was moved along the building's frontage as workmen erected the decorations. In front of another building three athletic "types" performed a gymnastic feat as they attempted to reach the highest point. One man knelt, another stood on his back and the third stood on the second man's shoulders.
Women's and men's organisations, cafes and hotels will combine to cater for the thousands of visitors.
CHURCH SERVICES
Photo: Riley Studios.
Lesley, the daughter of Mrs. Pearl Florence Johnston of 57 Conway Street, widow of an Australian airman killed over Italy in 1944, when Lesley was 18 months old, has been chosen to present a bouquet to the Queen, during her visit to Lismore.
Lesley collects Royal Family photographs and has now filled between 15 1 and 20 books with them. 1 Arrangements are not yet finalised, Lesley will wear her Legacy uniform white dress with a red and blue Legacy badge, white socks and black shiny shoes, and a bow in her hair. The Legacy group may provide her with a new uniform for the occasion. Lesley is a pupil at East Lismore Public School.
It was announced yesterday that Miss Jackie Jarrett, a Lismore dancing teacher, will give Lesley deportment lessons and show her how to make the presentation.
Mrs. F. Tengstrom (left), wife of the Hotel Gollan licensee and the Queen's hostess, discusses tour plans with the Mayoress. (Mrs R. Granger), right, and Mrs. J. Stretch.
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PresentabouquettoHerMajesty
10-year-old Lesley Lynette Johnston who is the envy of every girl in Lismore.
"I would like to do it, but someone will have to teach me how."
A born artist, who can 'get' her audience" was how adjudicators described performances by Jackie Jarrett in dancing, singing and elocutionary sections at the Lismore Musical Festival. She is pictured on the left in one of her dancing routine costumes.
Lesley is a senior legacy ward. The Mayor of Lismore, Ald. R. Granger, announced earlier this week that she had been chosen to present the bouquet. '' Lesley is quiet without being shy and has a ready smile. At the moment, she is probably the most excited girl in Lismore.
Legacy ward, Leslie Lynette Johnston, on the steps of the Hotel Canberra yesterday after a rehearsal of the bouquet presentation she will make to the Queen on Wednesday.
Northern Star (Lismore). Saturday 6 February 1954. Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 31
MR. AND MRS. FRANK TENGSTROM, of the Gollan Hotel, host and hostess to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during the Royal visit to Lismore.
Australian Women's Weekly.
Wednesday 10 February 1954.
Perhaps the Queen will accept the invitation of the Water Brigade and Rowing Club and watch the water from the balcony of the clubhouse that serves in times of flood as control point for all rescue and relief work.
For in the mounting crescendo of enthusiasm that is preceding the Royal visit to country towns, only one thing matters to get to town to see the Queen. The last light of day will be lingering in the sky when the Queen drives into Lis more, N.S.W., centre of the huge North Coast dairying industry.
AlongtheQueen'sWay
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Lismore was not always the go ahead American style city it is today, and it would be nice if among those who meet her there would be someone to tell her of the old cedar-getting days and to show her the last of the old river boats that traded up and down the Richmond.
The thunder and might of the great heavy industry plants that she had inspected that afternoon at Newcastle will seem to belong to another world. As she sees the ultra modern shops, some of them open fronted, and the light, gay colours of the buildings that are fast replacing the older conservatism.
Officially the Royal couple have the night of February 9 to themselves and there are no official engagements.
Perhaps, other people think, she may like to drive up into the hills that encircle the city and from the lookout at Robinson Heights look down on the lights of the town.
The drive from Evans Head airport to which the Royal plane flies on from Newcastle, will have been through flat, green country, with the sea away to the east, beyond sight. Elizabeth will come down from the hills, with their dairy farms and banana plantations, into a modern town blazing with lights and semi tropical flowers and shrubs and thronged with girls in sun top dresses and men in lightweight suits.
The night before the Queen's visit to the country towns of Australia will see each of them ringed with the glow of campfires, as outback families, determined to secure good vantage points the next day, sleep beneath tip-carts, sulkies, in tents and in caravans, and in expensive new model American cars.
It is after that that the townspeople hope the Royal couple will be drawn out into the semi tropical night to walk along the river gardens on the riverbank and watch the Venetian carnival. For on that night the treacherous Richmond that has caused much destruction in times of flood will be a place of decorated boats, fireworks, singing townsfolk, and coloured lights.
DRoyalty,whenontwooccasionsthukeofGloucestercametoopenthNorthCoastNationalAgriculturalandIndustrialSociety'sShow,thelargestontheNorthCoast.
c"TheQueenfirstsaidtoMrs.Wilson:Soyou'refromBerkshire,"aridthenaskedhowlongshehadbeeninouncil.Mrs.WilsonsaidshehadbeenanaldermansinceDecembertowhichtheQueenreplied:'Verynice.Congratulations."WhenMrs.WilsonpassedalongthedaistobepresentedtotheDuke,hesmiledandsaid:"Ihearyou'rekeepingyourendup."
Lismorehastwicebeenhostto
By AINSLIE BAKER
This will be Professor Wellington John Horacio Taylor, a resident of the town for 33 of his 94 (or is it 95?) years. Somewhere, safe from the crowds, will be the bicycle on which he has come in to see his old Queen's great great granddaughter.
Her uncle may have told her of its orch poincianas, frangipani, and tropical "golden ra or cassia fistulas that so beautifully line some the residential streets.
The next morning, before leaving for the 20 m distant inland town of Casino, the Queen exten her hand to Alderman Wilson, the hand put hers will be that of a woman and the grandmot of 15.
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Mrs. Cynthia Wilson, who will be presented to the Queen. Alderman Wilson is a broadcaster and scriptwriter for the local station 2LM.
Quite likely Her Majesty will already know t Lismore and some areas of Queensland are only places in the world where dairy farming is successfully carried on in sub tropical conditio
Alderman Cynthia Wilson is the first woman elected to Lismore City Council. Alderman Wilson comes from Berkshire, England, and during the First World War married a member of the Australian Flying Corps. She came to Australia in 1918 and has been living at Lismore since 1926.
It is possible that in later years, when the name Lismore is mentioned at Buckingham Palace, the Queen will call to mind not the cheering crowds, the bunting, or the green hills, but a steel spectacled, solar topeed ramrod figure standing at attention at what he calls "the Queen's salute."
Not only are our citizens justifiably proud of the fact that this city and district is included in the itinerary of the Royal visitors, but it is also fitting that Her Majesty will see what has aptly been described as "The Garden of N.S.W."
The Mayor of Lismore, Ald. R. Granger.
The Mayor of Lismore, Ald. R. Granger
In our welcome to the Royal couple, we will have an opportunity to express our loyalty and devotion as residents of a section of her Empire a district with its growing importance as one of the Commonwealth's greatest primary producing areas.
The arrival of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, Duke of Edinburgh, last night was the most historic and memorable occasion in the history of the city.
Nothing has captured the imagination and the spirit of the people as has Her Majesty's dedication of her life to her people. Her Christian approach to life has set an unparalleled example of service, which I am sure will live for many decades in the hearts and minds of her people.
In the words of the Governor-General, Sir William Slim, in his message to the Queen before she left England on her tour overseas.
"We hope Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will personally have a happy journey and that as our Sovereign, she may learn more and more of the unity of her peoples and of their devotion to herself and to the Crown as a vital element in the structure and co-operation of the British Commonwealth and Empire."
Wednesday
As our thanksgiving to the visit by Her Majesty, it is incumbent upon us to resolve that our work in future will be to building a great Commonwealth.
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It is the responsibility of each citizen alike, whatever be his calling, to strive to live and work, so that we may be worthy of the selfless devotion which she is prepared to give.
It will be the first time that a reigning monarch, not only has stepped upon Australian soil, but will have visited this somewhat remote corner of the State.
I am sure that it is the fervent prayer of all Christian people that she will have a happy and glorious reign.
Northern Star (Lismore) 10 February 1954.
Each of these visits evoked heart-warming demonstrations of welcome to the members of the oADlwa"H"cfaprctplDe"ttotfrtLQBRoyalfamilyandexpressionsofsincereloyaltytotheritishSovereign.ueenElizabeth'smotherandfathercametoismoreonApril13,1927butdidnotcomeintotheown.Theymadeahaltofabout15minutesattheailwaystationatSouthLismorewhileontheirwayromQueenslandtoSydney.QueenElizabethatthatimewaslittlemorethanayearoldshewasbornnApril21,1926.TheRoyalvisitor'sappearanceatheLismorerailwaystationwasdescribedasoneofhemostcrowded15minutesLismorehasknown.TheRoyalcarriagedrewupimmediatelyoppositethexit,fromwhereacarpetledoutsidetothedais.""TheukeandDuchesswerestandingonthecarriageatformasthetraindrewin.AstheydescendedtoheplatformtheMayorandMayoressandthetownlerkwerepresentedtothem.''TheMayoressesentedtheDuchesswithabouquetofpinkradiantndCecilBrunnerrosestiedwithpink."Passingurtheralongtheplatformthealdermenandshire,ouncillorsandtheladieswerepresented."Afterthepresentationswerecompleted,theirRoyalighnessesproceededtothedaisoutsidethestation.Therethemayor,onbehalfofthecitizensofLismorendtheshiresofTeraniaandGundurimba,elcomedthevisitorstothedistrictandexpressedoyaltytotheThroneandEmpire."Hepresentedtheukewithanilluminatedaddressinacasemadeofustralianwoods,bearingingoldlettersontheutside'Lismore1927'.
Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 35 Northern Star (Lismore) Wednesday 10 February 1954. Top:TheDukeandDuchessofYorkwelcomedbytheMayorof Lismore,Ald.C.McKenzie. Bottom:ThecrowdatLismorerailwaystation. Luxuriously Furnished Compartments in the Royal Train
Queen'sParentsWereFirstin1927 MEMORABLESTATIONSTOP aTHEREhavebeenthreepreviousRoyalvisitstoLismore.Thefirstin1927bytheQueen'smotherndfather,thenDukeandDuchessofYork;andtwobytheQueen'suncle,HisRoyalHighnesstheDukeofGloucester,in1934and1946.
William McCulloch Gollan
It is owned by William McCulloch Gollan who was born on 15 July 1885 in Lismore, his father, John, was 26 and his mother, Isabella, was 26.
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William's father, John Gollan, hailed originally from the Manning, where the name is favourably known in the shipping and timber trade — the tug "John Gollan" perpetuating his memory.
Gollan Hotel Rebuilt 1935
He was about the first person to convey sugar machinery to Rewa River, Suva, Fiji, in that vessel. After spending some years at sea, the schooner was sold, and he then took his father's estate near Tinonee, which he worked as a farmer for two or three years, during which time he entered into the matrimonial state.
William Gollan MLA was a Minister without portfolio in the State Government. Mr. Gollan will be among the official party at the hotel.
ETheHotelGollaninLismoreistheonlyHotelinAustraliaatwhichQueenElizabethandtheDukeofdinburghwillstayduringtheirtouroftheCommonwealth.FormerlyknownastheImperialHotel,theGollanwasrebuiltin1935.
Next to the Imperial in Woodlark Street was Wiliam Klein's smithy and wheelwright shop. There were then only six houses on the western side of Keen Street, between Magellan and Woodlark Streets, and Ambrose Pratt, the famous Australian novelist, lived two doors south of Tattersall's Hotel. He kept that hostelry for a few years, and then took a trip to Europe for the benefit of his health.
He introduced the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, to their host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Tengstrom.
When Mr. John Gollan came into Lismore the family lived in Upper Leycester Street, then heavy scrub, where the new Ballina Road cutting is today. Mr, and Mrs. John Gollan were charming folk, the family consisting of Hector, Billy, Don and Maude.
Mr. Tengstrom conducted the Queen to the Royal suite on her arrival to the Gollan Hotel in Lismore, and Mrs. Tengstrom escorted the Duke of Edinburgh.
He was married to Miss Isabella Stephens, eldest daughter of Mr. John Stephens. John Gollan took to a seafaring life and passed the Marine Board as a master mariner for the coast and traded on the north coast for some years as captain of Mr. Thomas Gollans schooner Isabella Gollan.
He subsequently bought a farm on Wilson's Creek, Bexhill, near Lismore, where he remained some six or seven years, When Mr. John Gollan built the Imperial Hotel, it was on vacant land about 1889, when Lismore received its impetus consequent on the starting of work on the Lismore Tweed railway.
JOHN GOLLAN
A State Minister, who is the son of district pioneers and was a pupil of Lismore Public School, was the first to officially welcome Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh yesterday.
y, , Welcomes Queen.
Mr. John Gollan was a respected townsman and took part in all matters pertaining to the development of Lismore.
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Wednesday 10 February 1954.
Hewasapproachedin1940bythethenPremier(nowSir WilliamMcKell)tostandforParliament.Mr.Gollanwas electedtotheconstituencyofRandwickin1941andhas representedthatelectorateeversince.Hewaselevatedto theMinistrylastyear.
At the age of 17 the wanderlust attacked him, and he went to South Africa where he spent two years before returning to Sydney. Mr. Gollan then opened business on his own account and was so successful that, 14 years later in 1924, he was able to retire.
Mr. Gollan's late father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. John Gollan, were pioneers in the Lismore district, moving from the Manning to the Richmond River where they took up a selection on Kowlong Road in the 1870's.
During his years in Parliament, he has been active in many spheres. On his recommendations the Homebush abattoir was reorganised on a business basis and now enjoys unprecedented prosperity and industrial harmony. Mr. Gollan was also primarily responsible for bringing into being the Sydney Turf Club, an organisationthathasbeenagreatsuccess.Againin.the sporting field, Mr. Gollan was solely responsible for the amendments to the Gaming and Betting Act, which broughtintobeingopenappealstotheAustralianJockey Club. His many other interests include the University of Technology of New South Wales, of which he is an honouredcouncillor.
Northern Star (Lismore).
In the 1880s Mr. Gollans father built the Imperial Hotel, a large wooden structure on the site now occupied by the Hotel Gollan. Thepresenthotelwasbuiltin1935byMr.Gollan andwasnamedtoperpetuatethememoryofhis parents.Atabuffetdinner,tobetendedbyMr. GollantoleadingcitizensofLismoretonightto celebratethevisitofHerMajestytheQueento Lismore,Mr.GollanwillpresenttotheCityof Lismoreahandsomeilluminatedaddresswhich wasgiventohisfatherin1899.
For some years during the 1890's, he was an alderman of the Lismore Council. As a boy, Mr. W. M. Gollan attended Lismore Public School. Shortly after his father took the family to Sydney in 1899, the boy commenced work for the princely sum of £1 per month.
After spending two years travelling abroad with his wife, Mr. Gollan assumed a life of leisure. After 12 months of golf, racing, his string of racehorses and playing cards at his club, Mr. Gollan realised that he was not happy and renewed his commercial associations. Mr. Gollan carried on until, having made another fortune, he retired for good in 1939, when he disposed of his string of fine racehorses. HOWEVER, far from becoming a club habitue lie entered public life.
Thepresentationwasmadeontheeveofhisdeparturefor Sydneybyalargeandrepresentativegatheringofcitizens ofLismore,headedbyMr.O'Flynn,thethenMayor.
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More than 50 years ago there was a weatherboard Commercial Hotel on the site of the modern brick building opposite the Imperial Hotel, at the intersection of Woodlark and Keen Streets, Lismore, which bears that designation today. Then conducted by Paul sons, it comprised the three separate units shown.
wThisreproductionofasectionoftheorkingplansshowsoneofthemainelevationsoftheHotelGollan.
A beginning will be made with the contract by August, within nine months from which it is expected the erection of the hotel will be completed.
Northern Star (Lismore).
Adjoining the licensed premises will be seven new shops—four in Woodlark Street and three in Keen Street.
Scarcely a week passes without some portion of old Lismore being wiped out by the march of progress. Old buildings give place to new, and the next to go will be the present Imperial Hotel, which will be replaced by the Hotel Gollan.
Monday 25 June 1934.
This photograph (above) is from Mr. W. A. Taylor's interesting collection.
IMPERIAL HOTEL
The view of Lismore (below) taken during the flood of August 1889, and preserved by Mr. W. A. Taylor, shows (on the right) the corner of the then vacant allotment, upon which the Imperial Hotel was subsequently built, and which will be the site of the new Hotel Gollan.
The architect for the building, we may add, was Mr. J. Robinson, of Lismore and the builders, Messrs Foster, Yates, and Hammond.
The staircase, 4ft. in width, leads from a hall off the main entrance in Keen street, and access is gained after entering the main door through a pair of double doors fitted with patent climax hinges. The billiard room entrance and several of the parlours is from Woodlark Street.
Mr. John Gollan's New Imperial Hotel
The proprietor has laid out a good deal of money in the speculation, and it is to be hoped the enterprise will fully realise his anticipation.
The height of the building to the top of the parapet is 38ft., and the parapet walls are made to hide the roof, giving the place a very solid appearance.
The rooms are all very lofty, those on the ground floor being 12ft. 4in. clear, and up-stairs 11ft. 4in., while every bedroom in the place has air space equal to 1200 cubic feet, and we may add that over every door there is fitted a fanlight, securing effective ventilation.
The frame of the building is hardwood, gum, tallowwood and teak, with beech for flooring, and lining with pine, &c.
A contract for stabling has been let, and several other additions are contemplated, including a lift for conveying meals to the upper floor.
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It is situated at the corner of Keen and Woodlark Streets, and is a two storey building of wood, having a frontage of 61 feet to Keen Street, with 60 feet to Woodlark Street, and has altogether 32 apartments. Downstairs there is the bar 16 + 16, 5 parlours 13 + 13, large dining room 30 + 15, billiard room 30 + 17, with three bedrooms, and in a detached building for a kitchen, scullery, and servant's room.
It speaks well for the future of the town, when people exhibit such faith in it, by the erection of superior buildings.
Our only regret while inspecting the building was, that it is not of brick; but we consoled ourselves with the thought that it is better to have a good spacious building of wood rather than a cramped one of brick.
Northern Star (Lismore). Wednesday 12 February 1890.
Last week an addition has been made to the hotels of the town by the licensing of Mr J. GolIan's new house, now known as the Imperial Hotel, which was opened to the public on Wednesday last.
Up stairs there are 14 bedrooms, a dining room and parlour, with bathroom, linen room, &c, and a large balcony 12 feet in width, extending the full frontage, thus affording a promenade nearly 50 yards in length.
Owing to the application of the Local Option vote in Lismore, it was requisite before a license could be granted, that special accommodation should be provided, and hence the new hotel is one of the largest in town.
Northern Star (Lismore). Saturday 28 Sep 1889.
A cellar 15 X 15 is placed under the bar, the latter being fitted with two pull beer engine, and neat fittings. Gas is laid through out the building, and the proprietor contemplates the introduction of water supply, as soon as it is available.
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Mr. Carl (aka Frank) Einar
Mrs. Norma Pauline Tengstrom, born in 1927 also served in the Australian Forces in World War ll. She was a nurse with the Royal Australian Navy. After the war she nursed at St. Vincent's and Prince Henry Hospitals, Sydney.
Host and Hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Frank, Tengstrom.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank, Tengstrom. went onto become Licensee of the Rex Hotel at Bondi in Sydney.
During the trip he constructed 50 ovens out of bread tins and flour tins and instructed the men in isolated areas how to make the most of their rations with the minimum of amenities. Mr. Tengstrom served for four years in the A.I.F., from 1942 1946 and rose to the rank of Lieutenant.
Mr. Tengstrom. who was a widower, has a daughter Caroline, aged 11, by his previous marriage. He met his wife in Bourke when she was travelling for her own business in women's and children's clothing.
Tengstrom has spent all his life in the catering business. Born in 1908 in Gothenburg, Sweden, he came to Australia in 1926 and entered the hotel business.
Mr. and Mrs. Tengstrom were married in Sydney on October 6, 1951. They have a daughter, Leslie, aged 13 months.
She is the only daughter of Police Inspector Buckley, of Sydney, who was one of the organisers of the recent world championship bout between Jimmy Carruthers and "Pappy" Gault.
Wednesday
Mr. Tengstrom came to the Hotel Gollan in May 1951, after being the licensee of the Royal Hotel, Bourke, since June 1946.
Mr. Tengstrom, enlisted on the 12 August 1942 and was attached to the Australian Army Catering Corps during the Second World War, he once walked 300 miles across New Guinea from Port Moresby to Buna and from Buna to Morobee.
Northern Star (Lismore). 10 February 1954.
He made the trip to work out a plan of how to get rations to servicemen who were constructing .and maintaining a communication line.
She was captain and standard bearer for Coogee Life Saving Club's women's team for six years.
Before the war Mrs. Tengstrom was a prominent Sydney model. At 15 years of age, she won a beach beauty contest as "Miss Maroubra," and the following year won the title "Miss Pacific."
He had visited Australia once before, in 1924 when he made several voyages on a school training ship.
Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 41 BUSY PAINTERS, working on the interior re-decoration watched by Norma Tengstrom, Hotel Manageress, Lismore's Hotel Gollan. Courier Mail, Brisbane, Qld.). Wednesday 20 January 1954.
Her bedroom will have lilac walls and ceiling. One of Australia's best-known interior decorators, Mrs. Hilda Abbott, of Bowral, near Goulburn (NSW), is supervising the decorations.
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An inter bedroom telephone hook up is being installed and will be operated by PMG experts. At present the hotel is full of painters, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters.
Residents claim that the Queen's hotel meals will compare favourably with any food she has eaten anywhere in the world.
Local furniture men are busy putting finishing touches to the luxurious Swedish blond wood furniture for the Queen's apartment.
Courier Mail, (Brisbane, Qld.).
The hotel has become famous, and hundreds of tourists are stopping to look at it. The picturesque, figured brick building, in the heart, of the city, is at present receiving a £3000 renovation to accommodate the Queen and Duke for 14 hours.
The curtains are soft green patterned with white. The chairs are light plum and white and the carpet patterned in lilac and chamnairne orchids.
The licensee. Mr. Frank Tengstrom, who was born in Sweden, has studied cooking and food in all European countries. He said yesterday: ''Food has always been my favourite hobby. This will be a real test.
GOLLAN HOTEL
Wednesday 20 January 1954.
The Royal suite consists of two bedrooms, a sitting room, and a bathroom.
A flagpole from which the Queen's personal ensign will fly has been erected on the roof. When her plane lands at Evans Head, the ensign will be taken in a fast car to Lismore and will be fluttering above the hotel when she reaches it.
The Duke's room, which will be painted green, is opposite the Queen's in the same suite. Every hotel room is being painted in soft pastel shades to match the new bedspreads and curtains. Airconditioning is being installed throughout the building.
Food from European countries is being imported to the Hotel's larders. The Royal couple will have more than 35 dishes, from caviar to steak and eggs, from which to select their evening meal.
The Queen's nine piece sitting room suite includes a radiogram and cocktail cabinet. Italian silk damask covering in four and half inch stripes of champagne and lilac colours will decorate the suite.
A cocktail cabinet has a mirror back and the radiogram and chairs are of matching wood.
Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 43 Northern Star (Lismore). Saturday 6 February 1954.
Duringherone-nightstayin Lismore,QueenElizabethwill sleepinalilac-tonedbedroom. ItispartofthesuitesetasideforHer MajestyandHisRoyalHighnessand membersoftheirhouseholdinthe HotelGollannextTuesday.
The green drapes with a matching, stitched pelmet, are in a Werner's conventional design and occasional tables in silver ash are dotted around the room. The white fluted lampshade is trimmed with green.
The bedroom walls are lilac and the drapes and sebcAiSThTtTibedspread,acombinationoflilacandchampagnenpure'silkItaliandamask.hematerialisinfourandahalfinchstripesinthewocolourswithanembossedpatterninchampagne.hesheetsandblanketsofthebedarelilac.esixpiecesofbedroomfurnitureareinblondwedishwoodandonthedressing,tableisanvorytelephone.nattractive,lowbedroomchairiscoveredinhampagnesatinwithpinkrosedesign.Theedsidelampshadeisofchampagnegeorgette,lectricallypleatedonablondSwedishwoodtand.
The Duke of Edinburgh will sleep in a room of green shadings. His suite is also of blond Swedish wood and the sheets, blankets and bedspread will be of green. Silver ash wood is the feature of the sitting room.
Walls in the dining room are pale green and the furniture is of silver ash. Long drapes in red, grey, and lemon toning's are in glazed chintz.
ChefoftheHotelGollan,Mr.J.Sumner,preparesaRoyaldinnerof FreshSalmonfromCanadafortheQueenandDuke.Mr.Sumner.
DHehascookedforRoyaltyandotherimportantpersonagesonnumerousoccasions.WhentheukeofGloucestervisitedTamworthduringhistermasGovernor-General,Mr.
Filledwithlayerafterlayer(upto12m)oficecream, strawberries and fresh whipped cream; hollowed pineapples,filledwithamixtureofpineapple,cherries, andcuracaoliqueur,withtheir'lids'putback;andan exact replica of the Royal yacht, Gothic, made of ice cream.
ThemostspectaculardishesincludelobsterParsienne which has layers of lobster meat, mayonnaise, and saladpackedintotheshelllobster.crinolinewhichis shaped like a woman's skirt; carved up turkey, put togethersothatitcookswhole,surroundedby'birds' nestsmadeofstrawpotatoesandfilledwithmywhite potatoes;oldEnglishporkpieMowbray(whichlooks likealoafofbread).Sweetslitwithcolouredlights.
There will be a variety of between 35 and 40 dishes from which the Royal party may choose. A typical English note will be struck by the presence of a complete roast sirloin.
Preparing Royal Dinner
Thursday
Queen Elizabeth will be able to enjoy one of her favourite breakfast dishes English kippers if she wants to the following morning. A consignment has been especially imported from England. Served in a private dining room near the Royal suite.
Mr Summer plans to serve Grouse from Scotland, kippers from England and fresh salmon from Canada will be specially air freighted to Australia from Sweden by arrangement with the Swedish Consul in Sydney for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during their stay at the Gollan Hotel.
TheEnglishchef whocookedforthe QueenandDukeof Edinburghlearned histradeina numberofLondon's leadingHotels. BorninLondon53 yearsago,Mr.Jack Sumnerhasbeen30 yearsinAustralia.
Hotvolauventswithprawn,asparagus,chicken,and oysterfillings;SwedishwoodcockandScottishgrouse (whichhavebeencookedinwineandpreserved);pate defois(goose'sliver)inaspic;freshCanadiansalmon in aspic; hot salmon served with steamed small potatoes and creamed spinach (this is steamed and minced,flavouredwithsugarandsalt,andservedwith whitesauce).
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Sumner was asked to cook for him and his party at the Tamworthshowground.Hehasalsoofficiatedatfunctions atwhichpreviousGovernorGenerals,StateGovernorsand Premiershavebeenpresent.
Afterthemaindishesarefinished,thelightswillbe turned out and the sweets dishes some sitting on hollowedout ice blocks it up with coloured electric lightswillbewheeledin. These include gateau St. Honore which is a sophisticatedFrenchcakeconsistingoflayersofflaky puffpastry,velvetypastrycream,andbitesizedchoux balls.
ROYAL CHEF
(Photograph) Warwick Daily News (Qld). 11 February 1954.
She also asked Mr. Tengstrom about the Lismore weather. Mr. and Mrs. Tengstrom showed the Queen and Duke to I their sitting room, where they sat for a short time after being shown their bedrooms. The Queen said that the suite was "delightful" and asked if Mr. and Mrs. Tengstrom had any children. She said she would like to see the children in the morning. Mr. Tengstrom said that as the two girls, Carol and Lesley, were young, they were spending the night away from the hotel.
The Queen and Duke dined quietly with four members of the Royal Household on the Tuesday night in the 'private dining room that had been furnished for them at the Gollan Hotel.
The Royal couple breakfasted at 9 a.m. yesterday and, as the Queen left the hotel, she spoke to the staff, Mr. and Mrs. Tengstrom and the two children.
After Mr. and Mrs. Tengstrom had remained in the sitting room for a short time, Mrs. Tengstrom asked the Queen if she would like to go into the main dining room to choose her dinner. Before they went to the dining room, the Queen and Duke made the first of their two balcony appearances. The table was placed across the width of the dining room.
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HEAD WAITRESS
Flowers were arranged on the mantelpiece in front of a mirror in the room, the general appearance of which caused the Queen to say, "Oh dear, how beautiful!" After dinner, they ate some of the fresh fruits that had been supplied by the Country Women's Association and Banana Growers' Federation. The Queen retired soon after her second balcony appearance.
The hotel is the only one at which the Royal couple will stay during their Australian tour. They did not arrive in Lismore until nearly 8 on Tuesday and drove immediately to the hotel.
ROYAL COUPLE DINED WITH HOUSEHOLD PARTY
There the Premier, Mr. J. J. Cahill, presented their host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tengstrom, who escorted the Royal couple upstairs.
A local farmer's daughter, Freda Smith (Head Waitress), 26, of Bonalba, 62 miles from Lismore, who has been a waitress for seven years, will wait on the Queen's table.
The Queen and Duke passed through the entrance, which was massed with flowers. As the Queen walked upstairs with Mr. Tengstrom, she said that she was very pleased to be in Lismore and added that it was a pity there had been any doubt about the trip.
Three Lismore girls who are all 'walking on air' are the waitresses— Freda Smith, Elsa Wright, and Mavis Barrett. They will wear new black uniforms with white aprons, cuffs, and cap.
The two waiters— Tom Godwin and Steven Malmberg — will wear black trousers, cummerbund, Eton jacket, and bow tie.
Northern Star (Lismore). Thursday 11 February 1954.
S L J. G. Cornish
EVANS HEAD MAKES READY
The newly erected control tower has been equipped with every modern air safety device. Civil Aviation experts have circled the aerodrome in a test plane and have landed on it and taken off many times. They have 'stop-watched' their tests and have worked out the Royal arrival to the split second. The pilot of the Royal plane knows to the inch where he must stop the Royal Convair.
THE ROYAL FLIGHT DAKOTA AND HER CREW
If the team of crack mechanics finds the smallest defect in the Royal plane after it lands the second Convair will be used by the Queen when she leaves Evans Head for Dubbo the next Day. (Brisbane, Qld).
The aerodrome is 'ready and waiting' to receive its biggest civilian air armada. In nine days' time at least six planes weighing about 80 tons, will bring the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, their household staff, and reporters to the airport in one day. It will be the first Royal flight in Australia, and Queensland tour officials will be on the side lines watching closely.
Sunday Mail
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R.A.A.F. Sister Gay Bury, hostess to the Queen in the dining alcove in the Royal apartment
Sunday 31 January 1954.
Two white circles have been drawn on the tarmac to show him where the wheels of the plane must finish. An empty Convair will accompany the Royal air procession.
For weeks workmen have been levelling the Evans Head aerodrome runways into billiard table smoothness. All buildings have been painted and 20 telephones and teleprinters have been installed for more than 70 reporters from all parts of the world.
At least 80 tons of planes will land on billiard-table runways Every safety device at control, repeated tests made by experts.
P./O.T. Newson S-L C.K. Brakenridge
An interested crowd watches the Royal car driver, Staff Sergeant K. Bradshaw (with Hose) and Sergeant J. Dale washing the car in which the Queen and the Duke will drive through Lismore Streets.
The Royal Tour of Lismore Streets.
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LISMORE TIMETABLE MAnofficialannouncementstatesthatatLismoretheMinisterwithoutPortfolio,r.W.H.Gollan,willreceivetheQueenandtheDukeofEdinburghandpresentthemtotheMayorandMayoress,Aid.andMrs.R.Granger. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9th. DetailsoftheItineraryinLismoreare 6.18P.M.—RoyalPartywillarriveatEvansHeadairport.7.30P.M.—RoyalPartywillarriveatHotelGollan,Lismore. Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 48 Lismore residents followed the example of these 'early birds' who took up picked positions at 7am ready to cheer the Royals as they arrived at Lismore. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10th. H10:10A.M.—LeavetheHotelGollanandproceedinRoyalprogressviaKeenStreet,MagellanandMolesworthStreetstotheofficialdais,inMemorialParkfacingConwayStreet.04A.M.—ArriveimmediatelyinfrontofthedaisandtobemetbytheMinisterwithoutPortfolio,Mr.W.H.Gollan,whowillpresenthisWorshiptheMayorandMayoressandTownClerk.isWorshipwill,thenconducttheRoyalPartytothedais.10:06A.M.—OncompletionoftheNationalAnthem,presentationstoHerMajestyandHisRoyalHighnesswillbemade.PresenterswillmountthedaisfromthesouthernenclosureontherightofHerMajesty;andafterpresentationwilldeparttotheoppositesideintothenorthernenclosure.10.11A.M.—HisWorshiptheMayorwillreadanaddressofwelcomeandhandittoHerMajesty.HerMajestywillreadareply.AbouquetwillthenbepresentedtoHerMajestybyachild.10.15A.M.—TheMayorandMayoresswillthenconductHerMajestyandHisRoyalHighnessfromthedais,pastrepresentativegroupsroundthePoolofRemembrancetotheMemorialGates.10.18A.M.—TheRoyalProgresswillcommenceviaMolesworth,WoodlarkandDawsonStreetstoOakesOval,whereschoolchildrenwillbeassembled.HerMajestywilldrivearoundtheovalandalongthelanesarranged.10.25A.M.—ArriveatOakesOval.10.32A.M.ReturnviaDawsonStreettoUralbaStreetandthenproceedpasttheBaseHospitaltoDibbsStreetandreturn.10.44A.M.—ArriveatintersectionofWoodlarkandMolesworthStreets.(RoyalHotel).10.45A.M.—ChangecarsandfarewellleavingforCasino.
The school children along the river side of the oeftThwihchtaSwsTheThpasseroadwereabletoseetheQueenclearlyasthecardthemveryslowly.echildrenwereinpositionby6.10p.m.andthescortoftheRoyalcardidnotappearuntil7pm.eaboriginalteacheratCabbageTreeIslandchool,MissEvelynRobinson,wastypicalofthoseaitingtoseetheQueen.hestoodwiththeschoolchildrenwaitingfortherrivaloftheconvoyandpeeredanxiouslyalongheroadhopingtocatchaglimpseoftheeadlightsthatwouldheraldthearrivalofthears.Whenraincommencedfalling,sheraisederumbrella,butherprincipalconcernwasatthencreasingdarkness."Whatashameifitisdarkhenshearrives,"MissRobinsonsaidruefully.ecrowdsofpeople,whohadstoodformorehanthreehoursinwind-drivenrain,brokeintoarenzyofwildcheersassoonasthemotorcyclescortoftheRoyalconvoyenteredthemainstreetfWoodburn.
ElevenyearsoldNancyBoltwasin frontandheldabouquetof carnations,rosesandgerberasgrown ontheisland. sbdreThbbsWcThtwNancyhadpractisedacurtseyandthemannerinhichsheshouldpresentthebouquet,inthehopehatshemightbeabletomakethepresentation.eschoolchildren'scheerswereloudestastheonvoyofcarsapproached.hentheQueen'scarcameintoview,thenoiseubsidedslightlyaseachchildwatchedreathlesslytoseeiftheQueenwouldaccepttheouquet.Theirdisappointmentwasshortlived.eyralliedandrecommencedcheeringasarnestlyasbefore.Aftertheconvoyhadpassed.Aftertheconvoyhadpassed.Nancyworeablueessandhadlongblackhairtiedwithlargeblueowsofribbon,stillstoodinfrontofherchoolmatesholdingthebouquet.
About 400 school children lined the river side of the road two deep. The Cabbage Tree Island group was the centre of the line-up. Northern Star (Lismore). Wednesday 10 February 1954. Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 49
Everyvantagepointwastakenasthecheering thousandswavedandroaredawelcometothe Sovereign. ThecrowdwasdensestneartheGollanHotelasthe Royalcardrewuptotheentrance.Severalwomen faintedandcollapsedwhenacrowdof5000broke throughapolicebarrierinKeenStreetwhenthe QueenandtheDukeappearedonthebalconyofthe HotelGollanafewminutesaftertheirarrivalin Lismore.
Thecrowdcrashedthroughthebarrierwhenthe Royal couple moved from Keen Street to the WoodlarkStreetbalcony.
In the gathering dusk and under rain-laden skies the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh landed at Evans Head aerodrome at 6.45 p.m. yesterday evenings.
This was followed by a tumultuous well 50,000 people crowded the main city centre as the Gollan Hotel.
Great crowds wait in rain for Royal Couple
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A crowd of over 5,000, many of whom had waited in driving rain for over six hours, greeted the Queen and the Duke with a deafening cheering as they stepped out of the plane.
Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 51 "THOUSANDSSINGTOTHEQUEENINRAINYouaremysunshine"DOWNPOURSTOPSINTIME iTenthousandpeoplewaitedntorrentialraintosing"YouAreMySunshine"totheQueenatLismorescivicwelcometoday.Hundredsofwomenstoodbarefootindeeppoolsofwater,wavinghandsstillholdingtheirshoesandstockings.Everythingandeverybodyweresoaking,andtheQueen,realisingtheirdiscomfort,gavethecrowdsaspecialwarmsmileandwave.TherainstoppedafewminutesbeforetheQueenarrivedbuttheredcarpetupthedaisstairswassoaking.
Herald (Melbourne, Vic). 10 February 1954.
Thousands and Thousands were cheering in Lismore as the Queen and Duke arrived at the Gollan Hotel in Lismore. The smiling Duke stepped aside as the Queen entered the Gollan.
Wednesday
Her Majesty and His Royal Highness made a second and final appearance on the balconies about 10 p.m. They were again greeted with a spontaneous and ear-splitting roar.
They had blankets, coats, umbrellas and some had cooking utensils. Hundreds more camped in caravan park. Thousands more will travel all night from centres hundreds of miles away to be in Lismore today.
Early this morning the largest movement of schoolchildren the North Coast has ever known began converging on Lismore.
The Queen waving a greeting from the balcony of the Hotel Gollan, Lismore to the wildly enthusiastic crowds in the street below.
Twice On Balcony
Before midnight many people were still in the streets of Lismore waiting to see the Queen this morning. Many of them had chosen places near the dais and Council Chambers."
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh spent Tuesday night at the Hotel Gollan. Warwick Daily News Thursday February 11 1954.
NorthernStar(Lismore,NSW:1876-1954),Wednesday10February1954,page1
At Oakes Oval this morning between 11,000 and 12,000 children will assembled to greet the Queen and the Duke. ' They will come from all parts of the North Coast and the Tablelands. Some began their journey as early as 2 a.m. and will travel over 500 miles to greet their Queen.
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Soon after the Queen made her first appearance on the hotel balconies, the crowd began singing "God Save The Queen", and chanting, "We want the Queen".
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Police flung themselves at the crowd and kept the people away from the Queen and Duke, but the road behind the Queen's car was completely blocked.
Wednesday
Screamedonealmost hystericalmiddle-aged woman:''You'rebeautiful, Ijustloveyou''andflags andbuntingflewintothe airasthecrowdtriedto tossthemtothe Queen'sfeet.
When the Queen disappeared inside, the cheering died down. Then a young woman in the crowd saw the Duke; through a chink in the closure! Canvas blinds along the first floor balcony of the hotel building and screamed it the top of her voice: 'There he is. It's him. He's coining out.' The Duke heard her, her sing out, smiled and
then led the Queen out on to htwthofmebcRfdukwSstIttwcthebalconyat8.12p.m.Fortherowdwhohad!worriedalltheet,miserablehourswhetherheQueenwouldevengettoheircitythiswasjusttoogood.nawave,theyswept,towardshehotel.Policecordonstrengthenedwithtroops,BoycoutsandofficialswhoelcomedtheQueen,werenockedaside.Tourofficialsckedoffthestreetsforcoverromthemassofpeople.anwildPolice,unabletoontrolthecrowd,fellbackeforethemandblockedthentrancetothehotelwithaassofblue-uniformedsix-ootbodies.Aroundthefficially'sacred'reservedarea,undredyardsoneithersideofhehotel,NorthCoastersranild,shoutingtheirgreetingstoheQueenandherlaughingusband,onlyafewfeetaway.
LISMORE ROYAL WELCOME
TREMENDOUS
The Queen's aides and Tour officials, unable to drive to the hotel, had to get out of their cars and push their way through the crowd on foot.
All round the Queen's hotel was a mass of cheering, flag waving people, as the spotlighted Royal Standard broke on the roof.
EICHTY - YEAR - OLD Miss C. N. Harding, of Lismore who had a front row position in the rain to sec the Queen and Duke arrive in Lismore.
Forty thousand people cheered, shouted and cried as the Queen and the Duke drove to their hotel at 8.10 pm through excited crowds. And when the Queen, dressed in blue and white, stepped out of her car, they just rushed towards her with a tremendous roar.
Courier Mail (Brisbane, Qld.). 10 February 1954.
After a day of 'it is all off because of the rain' rumours, Lismore went crazy with happiness as the Queen drove through the city streets last night.
Trampled Panting women and children who had been trampled in the rush were carried to shelter behind the narrow police cordon in front ofthehotelentrance.
40,000 Cheer, shout; Queen and Duke on balcony
Most of the crowd outside the hotel dispersed by 11 pm. Hundreds of camps sprang up in parks and recreation areas in the city as people set themselves for a wait and the Queen again this morning.
I helped a woman and two children behind the barrier before I was swept along in the crowd. But with the Queen in front of them, waving and smiling, no one had a thought for anyone else.
The crowd moved towards the river, where the Queen and the Duke were expected to appear at a special Venetian carnival arranged for the night.
itTheQueenremainedonthebalconyhistimefornearlyfiveminutes.LatelastnightpeoplewerestillpouringntoLismorefromcentrefromallovertheNorthCoast,afteritwasannouncedthattheQueenhadactuallyarrived.
Still wait Late last night people were still standing near the Queen's hotel, gazing at the lighted window which everyone knew was that of her private suite.
Thousands stayed around the hotel in the hope that the Queen would come on to the balcony again. And their cheers when she did so at nearly 10 p.m. brought the crowds running back from the riverbank.
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Courier Mail (Brisbane, Qld.).
After five minutes on the balcony the Queen moved back into the hotel for dinner, and everything became quiet.
After the Queen's last appearance, the Mayor appealed to the people to move away and give the Queen a good night's rest after her long dav. The Queen and the Duke went to bed soon after 10.30 pm.
Everywhere people said: 'She'll come. She won't let us down.' And all the streets the Queen drove through were lined hours before advice was received in Lismore that she was on the way Shopkeepers, still not knowing whether the Royal couple would come or not set to work at 5 pm to nail up the last of the bunting that they had been saving from the rain.
Wednesday 10 February 1954.
To quieten the day-long rumours that the Queen might not come, the Mayor (Ald. R. Granger) had announced soon after mid day that a decision would be made late in the afternoon.
Earlier, the Queen ate a good dinner. She sampled several of the dishes which her host, Hotel Gollan keeper Frank Tengstrom had prepared for her.
The Queen had looked tired when she arrived in Lismore, but she kept smiling to the crowds.
After 5 pm hopes drooped again. The rain started to drizzle down and blotted out the hills around the city. At 6.30 p.m. it stooped, and by the greatest luck it held dry until the Queen's car arrived in the city at 8 p.m. almost, an hour late.
The rain: It fell all day long. And everyone knew visibility at Evans Head was getting worse. Never, even in the worst flood times, have Lismore people watched the weather with such a careful eye Watching the sky every few rmnui.es people dashed out to the streets to have another look at the sky, trying to convince themselves the rain and clouds were lifting. It was a close thing. Not until nearly 4 pm. did the weather improve. And then the news came through Evans Head had been warned to be ready to receive aircraft.
The Mayor of Lismore, Ald. R. Granger.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip,
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Duke of Edinburgh stepping out from the Gollan Hotel.
Lismore authorities said last night that the weather showed signs of bringing 'setin' drought - breaking rains. However, they said that everyone in the district was annoyed about the rain threatening to mar the Queen's visit.
The Queen slept in Lismore last night behind one of the tightest and strongest security cordons ever used in Australia.
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Courier Mail (Brisbane,
The Northern Rivers district has been in the grip of one of its worst droughts for the last six months.
The building itself was under constant watch from all angles. Every inch before the Queen arrived. Consortingsquad men searched every inch of the Gollan Hotel, including cupboards and wardrobes in all bedrooms. The tight precautions I understand do not reflect any official fear that the Queen might come to harm in Lismore. They are considered as safeguards necessary when the Sovereign is in any building fronting a public street. Qld.).
All-night Watch
On guard as Queen sleeping
It was the only night the Queen and the Duke will spend in an Australian hotel. The Queen's Scotland Yard men in collaboration with Federal Security Officers and police, maintained an all night guard, unobtrusively, in streets surrounding the hotel.
The parade will commence from the training depot in Conway Street, proceed down Keen Street, Woodlark, Molesworth, Magellan, Keen, Orion Streets and Winterton
The bands will take up their positions at 8 a.m. and will play practically continuously until the departure of the Royal party. At the Council Chambers the two Lismore brass bands will play the first verse of the National Anthem as a Roval salute.
This was announced last night by Mr. J. E. Ellis, who is organising the bands portion of the celebrations.
Mr. Ellis asked that the two Lismore bands attend a full dress rehearsal at Spink's Park tomorrow at 8.15 p.m.
Northern Star (Lismore). Saturday 6 February 1954.
The Lismore bands will play at the City Council. Chambers, the Byron Bay band at ' Singers Corner, Ballina band at Cresswell's garage, and Murwillumbah band at Oakes oval.
SEVEN BANDS TO PLAY
Wednesday,theByronScottishRegimentwillparadethroughthestreetsofLismore,saidtheCommandingOfficer,Lt.-Col.L.G.Crandon,lastnight.
Friday 5 February 1954.
ThParadetotheShowground.iswillbethefirstopportunity
Northern Star (Lismore).
AfterQueenElizabethleavesLismorenext
The Lismore Ex Servicemen's Band, the Boys' Band, the Lismore City Pipe Band, and the Byron Scottish Regiment's Pipe Band will be augmented by bands from Murwillumbah, Byron Bay and Ballina.
the public of the North MacAARbLFRAMrAThLstfCHThHfCoastwillhaveofseeingtheregimentmarchingasaunitinullequipment,aswornbytheArgyllandSutherlandighlanders,withwhichtheregiment;isaffiliated.eQueenisColonelinChiefoftheArgyll,andSutherlandighlanders.Theparadewillcommenceatnoon,saidCol.randon.DuringTuesdayandatnight,theunitwillrehearseorthestrictliningdrillandthepayingofcompliments.Onhefollowingday,theregimentwillcommencetolinethetreetsat8a.m.About600troopswilltakepartintheismorecelebrationsandabout250atCasino.osegoingtoCasinowouldhetheDCoy.,Casino,andthessaultPioneerPlatoonfromKyogle.Theremainderoftheegiment,fromLismore,Grafton,Mullumbimby,Ballinaandurwillumbah,wouldbeatLismore,saidCol,Crandon.bout400visitingexservicemenwillbeentertainedatthe.S.L.MemorialClubroomsaftertheQueen'sdepartureonebruary10.ThesecretaryofCasinoR.S.L.Sub-branch,Mr..Austen,saidthistoday.Mr.Austenestimatedtherewoulde800exservicemenandafewexservicewomenattheoyalreceptionatCarringtonPark.bout400wouldbemembersofthelocalsub-branch.Mr.ustensaidonpresentindications90exservicemenwereomingfromGrafton,35fromTenterfield,35fromKyogle,bout20fromBonalboand12eachfromTabulam,allanganee,BentleyandWoodenbong-Urbenville.
On Tuesday night the two Lismore brass bands will play at the Venetian Carnival, the Boys' Band playing for the Grafton Girls' Marching Bands.
BYRON SCOTTISH TO PARADE AFTER VISIT
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Five brass hands anil two pipe bands will play during the visit to Lismore of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on Wednesday.
Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 58 Shared on Good old Days in and around Lismore N.S.W. by Betty and Frank Graham.
Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 59 Royal Arrival at Lismore Theroutetobetaken byQueenElizabethand theDukeofEdinburgh whentheyarrivein Lismoreat7.23p.m.on Tuesday. The car occupied by the Premier will proceed direct to the Hotel Gollan while the Royal Party travel along Molesworth, Magellan and Keen Streets ateightmilesperhour. NorthernStar(Lismore) Friday5February1954. yLightsandbuntingarestrungacrossthestreetsandflagsareflyingfromdozensofhomes.InLismore,esterdaymorning,workwentaheadtoprepareforthehugecrowdexpectedfromallovertheNorthCoast. pleAaS'Wecouldnowhaveanythingfrom70,000to100,000peoplehereonWednesday,'Mr.Grangersaid.howgroundpavilionsweretakenovertohousethe260policemennd600soldierswhowilllinetheQueen'sroutethroughthestreets.nditseems,fromthenumberoffoodstallsspringingup,asifveryoneinLismorewhocancookahamburger,orapieisanningtohelpfeedthecrowd.AtherDalleyStreethome,Mrs.E.G.Rogersfinisheddecoratingwithagardenhose.SincelastSeptembershehasnursedthehundredsofboxesofflowersthatwillbesetinthestreetto-daytogiveLismoreitslasttouchofcolour.AllmorningMrs.Rogerswateredthethousandsofbloomsgrowninspecialred,white,andbluecolourschemes.Farmingorganisationofficialsspentthedayselectingthepickofthedistrict'sfruit,tosetbeforetheQueen.AhugebasketistobesenttoherinhersuiteattheHotelGollan.LismorepeoplearenowreadytogiveRoyaltyarealcountrywelcometonightontheirfirstcountrytripinAustralia.Theyarejusthopingtheweatherdoesn'tletthemdown.
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ROYAL FEVER brought Mrs. A. Bushel! (left), of Cunnamulla, to Lismore yesterday to catch a glimpse of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Nursing her three month old daughter, Vicki, she took up a position with friends outside the Hotel Gollan at 6 am in pouring rain.
It was Lismore's turn to cheer the Queen and forget about the rain.
Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld). February 1954.
DRENCHING RAIN did not dampen the enthusiasm of Lismore crowds cheering the Royal Progress in Woodlark Street yesterday morning. This was the overall scene as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh set out on their drive to Casino. The Royal Standard is flying, on their closed car.
Enthusiastic: These aboriginal schoolchildren from the Cubawee and Cabbage Tree Island schools vented their enthusiasm as the Queen drew near Lismore.
Thursday 11
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The Queen's easy manner and friendly interest in the proceedings and the Duke's informality and humour were sufficient to absorb the crowd's attention completely throughout the ten minutes they were on the dais.
On the Queen's arrival for the Civic reception, she meets William Gollan.
l regret that my visit to the City of Lismore must be so short. But I am glad that it has enabled me to meet personally many more of the people who 1 live far away from the capital cities.
"Whilst only a small portion of this vast continent of Australia, this district's contribution to the progress and security of the Empire is a proud one, being exemplified in the wealth of its resources, efficiency of industries and record of achievement of exservicemen, ex-servicewomen and other organisations.
"Whilst we regret that it will not be possible for you to see more of this fertile district, its beauty and its people, it is our sincerest wish that you enjoy your visit, that you retain happy memories of your sojourn amongst us and in the years that lie ahead you will join with us in the knowledge that your visit has further cemented those bonds which link us with the Mother country."
On behalf of my husband and myself, I thank you, the Aldermen and citizens of Lismore and surrounding districts for the welcome you have given us.
Northern Star (Lismore).
The Mayor, Ald Ray Granger, in his address of welcome, said: "May it please Your Most Gracious Majesty. "We, the citizens of the City of Lismore and district, desire to assure Your Most Gracious Majesty 'of our unswerving loyalty and devotion and of our allegiance to the throne. "We deeply and sincerely appreciate the honour conferred upon this district by your visit and convey our warmest and sincerest greetings.
"It is with the utmost pride and pleasure that we recall the visit to this district in 1927 of His Late Majesty, King George VI and Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mother, then Duke and Duchess of York, and in more recent years we have had the. honour of welcoming His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester, on two occasions.''
Mayor, I thank you again for your welcome and I extend to all people of the Far North Coast of New South Wales my very best wishes. May happiness, prosperity and peace Always be yours."
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The Queen, in her speech at the official dais, said she and the Duke of Edinburgh wished to thank the people of Lismore and district for thewarmwelcometheyhadreceived.
"This is indeed a lovely and prosperous district, and I know well the great contribution you who live in it are making to the development of your country and the strengthening of the British Commonwealth.
QUEEN'S THANKS FOR WARM WELCOME
presentees were delayed on the dais while the Duke asked questions.
Those who did allow themselves time to really look at the Queen's lady in waiting, were delighted at her appearance. Lady Egerton looked cool and at ease in a grey and white figured frock, with which she wore black accessories and a small white hat.
Lady Alice was the youngest child of the 4th Earl of Ellesmere and his wife, Violet. In 1949, she replaced her sister, Lady Margaret Colville, as a Lady in Waiting to the then Princess Elizabeth and became a Woman of the Bedchamber in 1953. Sir Michael Adeane was Private Secretary to Elizabeth II for 19 years, between 1953 and 1972.
The Queen's suit material background was off white and a rose design in pink, with green leaves. The sleeves were elbow length and only slightly above the long white gloves with which the Queen has become identified.
The skirt was very fully flared, and the Queen's little green head-hugging hat was of straw, trimmed with narrow bands of red, green and white velvet.
Around her neck were three rows of pearls and wore pearl stud earrings and a brooch on the rounded lapel of the suit coat.
Although Lady Alice Egerton and Sir Michael Adeane could be seen very easily, few were aware of their presence.
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for added comfort. To most of the thousands who watched the dais so intently, the two members of the Queen's household would have been un noticeable at the rear of the stage.
To all the conversations the Queen listened interestedly. But on only one occasion did she speak for any length of time to a presentee on the dais.
Mrs. C. E. Storrs, wife of the Bishop of Grafton, Rt. Rev. C. E. Storrs, wore a grey linen lace frock with red accessories for her presentation to the Queen and Duke.
The Queen stood gravely as the Mayor, Ald. R. Granger, read the address of welcome, and, still unsmiling, read her reply. When Rev. C. J. Wells was presented to the Queen and Duke as the president of the Ministers Fraternal, the Duke asked him what denominations were included in the fraternal. He asked Mrs. Wells what her denomination was.
As the Duke spoke to Rev. Wells, Mr. Stephens, Rt. Rev. Storrs, Ald. L. G. Evans, N, Thompson, Mrs. Wilson and Lt. Col. L. G. Crandon, the Queen listened intently and laughed at times.
Mr. J. S. Easter, M.L.A., and Mrs. Easter were the, next presentees. Mrs. Easter's frock was of off white lace, and she added small white, black-veiled hat and black accessories Mr. S. T. Stephens, MIA., and Mrs. Stephens were also presented. Mrs Stephens was dressed in a grey paper shantung frock with a small white spot, a tiny white hat and black accessories.
Wildflowers were arranged in yellow vases on either side of the dais. The arrangement was the work of Mr. and Mrs. K. Nelson, who had commenced the work at 5 a.m. The flowers were principally Christmas bells and with them were lemon scented citronella, pink and white boronia and white bottle brush.
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The Queen stopped to speak to many people during the review of ex-servicemen, women, and women's organisations. Ald. Granger presented Mrs. A. A. Barnett, the president of the Lismore, Red Cross branch.
The last two presentees, Mrs. J. Allen and Mrs. Alice Johnston, were applauded. Seventy-eightyear old Mrs. Allen was presented first and Mrs. Johnston, with a walking stick, followed.
Beach Resort When the Mayor of Ballina, Ald. R. L. O'Neill, was presented to her, the Queen asked about Ballina and was told by Ald. O'Neill that it was the "leading beach resort on the North Coast."
AwTheMayorPresentedtheMinisterithoutPortfolio,"Mr.W.M.Gollan,presentedtheMayorandMayoress,ld.andMrs.R.Granger,totheQueenandDukeatthedaissteps.Mrs.Grangerworeagunmetalgreyshantungfrockwithapinkandgreyhatandblackaccessories.
Welcoming hand from the Queen for Mayor Ald Ray Granger
The first of the presentees on the dais were the Postmaster General and Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr. H. L. Anthony, and Mrs. Anthony. Mrs. Anthony was lovely in a grey nylon frock with a large white coin spot. The skirt was fully flared, and, with the frock, she wore a white pill box hat with a large white bow at the back, white sandals and long white gloves.
ShewasLegacyward, LesleyLynetteJohnston, whomountedthestepsof thedais,handedthe bouquetto'theQueenand droppedinalowcurtsy, firstbeforeHerMajesty andthenbeforetheDuke.
Aterrificroarof appreciationburstfrom thecrowdastheQueen smiledgraciouslyand tookthebouquetfrom Leslie.
Then,forabriefmoment, anervouslittlegirl, dressedinwhiteand carryingabeautiful bouquetofpink carnations,stolethe limelight.
Lesleywaswearingher Legacyuniform white dresswithredandblue Legacybadge,whitesocks andshinyblackshoesanda bowinherhair.
10-year-old Lesley Lynette Johnston presents the Queen with a bouquet at the Civic reception at the Dias in Spink's Park.
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YOUNG SPECTATOR
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THE BOYS BOW
Although the boys behaved beautifully when they met the Queen, the girls, panicked by the crowds, burst into tears.
SARA FAMILY set off on the long drive from their home at Bellingen, N.S.W., to Lismore for the Royal visit. Betty Sara's hopes that the Queen might notice the Quads were fulfilled. All four children met Her Majesty.
Shelter from the rain under her coat while she waited patiently to cheer the Queen during the Royal tour of northern New South Wales.
Mark (left) and Phillip Sara give varying versions of their bote for Royally during a rehearsal.
The Queen smiled and sympathised with Mrs. Sara when the children, confused by the crowds, cried and forgot their bows.
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The Quads had walked in a real tropical downpour from the ambulance station where last minute curtsy rehearsals were perfected. Then the floods of rain and the crowds they had to push their way through upset the children. Percy and Betty led them on reins.
The two boys, Phillip and Mark, were perfectly behaved and remembered the bows they had rehearsed for the Queen.
Only once throughout the long reception of the dignitaries did the Quads speak. It was Alison who threw in a cheer as the Queen was replying to the Lord Mayor's address. The Queen wore a dress and jacket of soft white Aleutian silk sprigged with pinks. The material was mounted to give stiffness and the skirt was pleated in deep folds. Her tiny emerald green hat was trimmed with cherry and beige velvet edging. She wore a three-strand pearl necklace, pearl earrings, and a diamond lapel brooch.
THE QUEEN MEETS SARA QUADS
The two girls, Judith and Alison, broke away from their mother and cried loudly as the Queen, with a wide smile, walked up to the children and their parents.
'"It must be terrifying for them all these crowds," the Queen said, and she asked Betty how old the Quads were. Mrs Sara went to catch up with her two daughters, who were howling their heads off. The Queen turned and talked to their father, Percy Sara, "They are lovely children," she said to him. "I understand they are Australia's only quads." The Queen asked Percy how the Sara family had enjoyed their trip to England. Percy, with the two boys, had a long talk with the Queen while Betty tried to keep the girls quiet.
Her Majesty sympathised with girls' stage fright, tears. Stage fright took possession of two of the Sara Quads, Judith and Alison, when the four children and their parents, Betty and Percy, were presented to the Queen after the civic reception at Lismore.
But that was useless, and the Queen, laughing, left the Saras and went to receive the head of the R.S.S.A.I.L.A. local branch.
The Sara Quads meet the Queen during Her Majesty's visit to Lismore with the Duke of Edinburgh.
The children wore plastic raincoats the boys in blue and the girls in red for the Royal meeting. Before the Queen arrived, it was a struggle to induce the Quads to shed their raincoats, but this was finally achieved just a minute before the Royal car drew up and the Royal Standard was broken above the dais.
Immediately following, the civic welcome this morning, the Queen met exservice personnel. Here Her Majesty is shown with the President of the Lismore sub- branch of the R.S.L. (Dr. Ronald Edward Longworth M.D.) as he escorted her through lines of people at the gathering. Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 68 WhenRolandEdwardLongworthMDwasbornin1892 inNewSouthWales,hisfather,William,was35and hismother,Katherine,was35. HemarriedVeraBonamiin1931inSydney, NewSouthWales.Hediedin1961inLismore, attheageof69. Service Numbers: 752, Officer Enlisted: 24 August 1914, Kensington, NSW Last Rank: Major Last Unit: 15 Motor Regiment Date of embarkation: 20 October 1914 Place of embarkation: Sydney Ship embarked on: HMAT Euripides Born: Petershaw, NSW, 29 August 1892 Home Town: Hunters Hill, Hunters Hill, New South Wales Memorials: Lismore Club WW2 Roll of Honour
Northern Star (Lismore).
ROYAL CAR STOPPED, AND THE QUEEN SMILED
The Queen smiled through the rainswept window of the Royal car during her drive at Oakes Oval. The Queen said she was pleased that the rain had arrived to break Lismore's Drought. Farmers said the Queen's ''rain'' was ''worth millions'' to the district.
Thursday 11 February 1954.
A large section of the excited crowd became completely out of hand for a few seconds when they surged madly towards the Royal car.
The Queen and the Duke had just entered the car to drive to Oakes Oval when, with a frenzied burst of cheering, hundreds of people swept across the road towards them.
There were enthusiastic scenes as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were leaving after the ceremony at the official dais in Lismore yesterday.
They worked desperately to push the crowd back and gradually managed to clear a path for the Royal car. But the Queen was still smiling at the crowd as the car eased through the narrow lane way ox people.
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Police, raced to the scene in an effort to stem the flow of people which momentarily blocked the progress of the Royal car.
The rain-sodden oval was too wet for the Royal car to pass along the lanes of children, but the Queen and the Duke made an extra circuit round the wildly waving cheering thousands.
The Queen was in the oval nearly five minutes longer than schedule.
EVERY AWNING ON THE BUSINESS PREMISES IN THE TWO MOLESWORTH STREET BLOCKS HAD SPECTATORS.
Thursday 11 February 1954.
GESTURE AT BASE HOSPITAL
Bedridden patients had been drawn on to the footpath and nurses were holding umbrellas over the patients in the torrential rain.
Lismore, police had difficulty in clearing a path for the Royal procession. Immediately the Royal car had left the dais in Lismore, the huge crowd surged up Molesworth Street to get a last glimpse of the Queen on her return from the Base Hospital.
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Troops in ceremonial dress, three bands, and the waving of streamers, flags and bunting to a background of tropical palms in the green park made a magnificent setting at the dais.
When the Royal car was about to cross the bridge to leave Lismore, soldiers' shoulder to shoulder had to cross rifles to keep back the crowds.
Queen's Happy Waves Thrill Crowds
The milling crowds were good tempered, despite the pouring rain. Long after the Royal car had passed, people waved and smiled despite the drenching during hours of waiting.
The car stopped and Her Majesty leaned, right out of the window and chatted with the patients.
One of the loudest bursts of greetings was from hundreds of Scouts, Cubs, Girl Guides and Brownies in Uralba Street.
The scene as the Queen passed the Lismore Base Hospital made the crowd delirious with delight.
From the Post Office corner to the intersection of Molesworth 'and Woodlark Streets there was one solid mass of pushing, surging people.
Over 11,000 children, drenched by the heavy rain, gave the Quern and the Duke a wonderful reception in Oakes Oval.
As the Royal car was returning down Uralba Street, the Queen ordered the driver to pull over to the wrong side of the road.
Northern Star (Lismore).
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VENETIAN CARNIVAL
Northern Star (Lismore, NSW)
Six boats and two canoes were brightly decorated for the' procession. A touch of humour was given when two young men, dressed as "Radish," walked onto a raft. They had created a stir when they trotted down Molesworth Street during the afternoon. Compere of the programme was Mr. Claude Riley.
Wednesday 10 February 1954
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Organiser was Ald. C. J. Campbell, with a committee of the Water Brigade and Rowing Club. Lismore Citizens' Band played during the night's programme.
Grafton Girls Marching bands opened the carnival with a march along Molesworth Street after the arrival of the Queen and the Duke at the Hotel Gollan.
A crowd of close on 6000 people attended the Lismore Water Brigade Venetian carnival last night. The crowd, varied considerably during the evening as many drifted away to the Hotel Gollan expecting to see the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Some of the participants in the events were boys 10 years of age. Surf boat races between the local surf clubs were held. The gaily decorated boats presented a beautiful picture as they glided along the river.
The girls, in attractive uniforms of different styles and colours, drew large crowds to the carnival. Woodburn Skiing Club provided thrills for the spectators lined along the floodlit Richmond Riverbank.
When Leslie Robert Johnston was born on 26 October 1921 in Alstonville, New South Wales, his father, David George Johnston, was 36 and his mother, Jessie Jane Crozier, was 34. He married Florence Pearl Ezzey in 1942 in Lismore, New South Wales. The marriage was solemnised on Wednesday, 12th instant, in St. Mark's Church of England, between Mr. Ralph Kenneth, youngest son of the late Mr. Henry Ezzey, of Kurrajong, and Miss Gladys Maude, fourth daughter of Councillor W. H. Hoskin, of Wyrallah, the Rev. L. S. Quinlin being the officiating clergyman. The honeymoon was spent at Byron Bay.
Northern Star (Lismore) 12th October 1950
Florence Pearl Ezzey died on 27 February 1984 in Lismore, New South Wales, at the age of 63, and was buried at the Lismore Lawn Cemetery and Memorial Gardens.
Leslie Robert Johnston & Florence Pearl Johnston (nee Ezzey)
Florence is buried with her mother Gladys Maude Ezzey.
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Leslie Robert Johnston died on 11 October 1944 in Malta and is buried at the Malta Memorial -Valletta, Southern Harbour, Malta. He was 22 years of age.
L E S L E Y L Y N E T T E J O H N S T O N S F A M I L Y
Death Place: Italy (Malta)
L E S L E Y L Y N E T T E J
F A
Death Date: 11 October 1944
The Vickers Wellington is a British twin engined, long-range medium bomber aircraft that was produced from 1936 to 1945 and used throughout World War II.
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Service number: 426605
Command: Mediterranean Ship: Wellington X
Enlistment Place: Brisbane
The Malta Memorial is a commemorative war memorial monument to the 2,298 Commonwealth air forces, who lost their lives in the II. World War air battles and engagements around the Mediterranean.
Casualty: Killed in action Residence Place: Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Navigation
An aircrew of No. 40 Squadron RAF gather by their Vickers Wellington Mark X at Foggia Main, Italy, before setting off on a night bombing mission. O H N S T O N S T
H E R
Conflict/Operation: Second World War, 1939-1945
Unit: No. 40 Squadron (RAAF)
Burial Place: Malta Memorial Valletta, Southern Harbour, Malta
Notes: Lost During a Raid on the Porto Nuovo Marshalling Yards, Verona
Final Rank: Flight Sergeant
Flight Sergeant Leslie Robert Johnston
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
In grateful memory of all who served ... and the following men who gave their lives.
Reverend E.G. Clancy conducted the service and stated, in part, "the highwater mark of love was self sacrifice. This was always deserving of grateful homage" (Northern Star, 28 April 1948).
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ALSTONVILLE CIRCUIT ROLL OF HONOUR WORLD WAR 1939 45
The roll is for the Alstonville Circuit of the Alstonville Methodist Church It was unveiled at the church on Anzac Day, 25 April 1928.
INSCRIPTION [Advance Australia]
Provided by the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society.
DESCRIPTION
In 1977, the Uniting Church was created with the merging of the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches.
Flight Sergeant Leslie Robert Johnston
Memorial Name: Alstonville Circuit Second World War Roll of Honour
The church is now known as the Alstonville Uniting Church and access to the memorial is restricted to its opening hours.
The memorial is a Gothic shaped, timber roll of honour for the Second World War. It features a solidly constructed frame, with carved columns that have been highly polished The centre panel is decorated with colour paintings of the British flag, the Australian Red Ensign, and wattle. The dedication and names are printed in gold, below these.
Tapestry
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IntheAbbey,thetapestrywashunginfrontof the Royal box in which the Queen Mother stood.
The rector, Canon J. V. J. Robinson, said yesterdaythatheknewofnootherpieceofthe tapestry in Australia. Mr. J. S. Easter, M.L.A., presented the tapestry to the church. He obtained it when in England to see the Coronation.
The background of the tapestry is midnight blue, and a laurel leaf pattern surrounds a crownandthenationalemblemsofEngland, Ireland,ScotlandandWales.
The rector, Canon J. V. J. Robinson
Coronation
The emblems are combined with the rose, leek,thistleandshamrockinterwovenattheir bases.
It will be hung inside the chapel beside the sidealtar.Itwillnotbehunguntiltheinterior workinthechurchhasbeenfinished.
The figuring on the tapestry is in gold and silverthreadandaheavygoldfringewillbe attached. The tapestry is 14 feet long and 4 feettwoinches wide.
Apieceoftapestry,similarto thathunginWestminster AbbeyduringtheCoronation ofQueenElizabeth,whichhas beenpresentedtoSt.Andrew's ChurchofEngland,Lismore.
Northern Star (Lismore,) Thursday 18 February 1954
Cadet journalist Marelle Lee was reporting on the Queen's arrival in Lismore just days before she found herself in the middle of record floods. Sixty years on, locals vividly remember raging torrents through the town centre.
"I spent most of the flood in boats or walking around on drier land talking to people. "There were lots of people sitting on rooves of buildings or on the second story and they called out to us, they seemed very cheerful, excited, and I guess they didn't know what was going to happen next."
In February 1954 one of the biggest events to happen to Lismore engulfed the town: a visit from Queen Elizabeth and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh. Marelle Lee was a teenager working for the Northern Star newspaper and remembers writing an article on one of the local hotels preparing a room fit for a queen. "The Queen and the Duke were upstairs on the balcony waving to the crowd of thousands of people," she says.
Many others had to be rescued by Lismore Water Brigade and Rowing Club volunteers.
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But heavy rain somewhat dampened the visit, preventing many community members from around the Northern Rivers from making the trip into town. "The flood rain started just as she was about to leave," Marelle recalls.
Late in the night on February 20, and in the early hours of February 21, a cyclone crossed the border from southern Queensland, bringing with it destructive wind and heavy rain. It drenched an already saturated region, causing rivers to rise to record heights.
A man and two men were confirmed dead in the Lismore area.
Greek migrant Harry Crethar, who was 17 years old at the time, remembers trying to navigate the boat through forceful currents rushing down Magellan Street.
The Richmond River at Lismore peaked at 44 feet ( 13.4m) in the early hours of the morning. Marelle was assigned to gather stories from around the town square.
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Molesworth Street, Lismore, during the flood. In the centre foreground can be seen part of the decorations used during the Royal visit earlier February.
LismorePolice,askingforanaerialdropof1000blankets neartheradiotransmitterfourmileseastofLismore.
NOTTHELISMORETHE ROYALCOUPLESAW
Daily Examiner (Grafton,
Wednesday 3 March 1954
Damagedmostofthecity's300shopsandstoresand causedmorethan£500,000lossofstock,broken fittings,andplateglasswindows.
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The announcer said, "As I speak to you now, people arebeingtakentothecourthouseabovefloodwaters, to sleep for the night. Bread and meat are badly needed.SomecameyesterdayfromBallinaandother centres,butitisdisappearingquickly."
Drownednearly3,500headofcattle,valuedatabout £30ahead,intheRichmond-Tweeddairyingareas.
Atelephotolenswasusedtotakethispanorama ofMolesworthStreet,Lismore,duringtheflood. NSW)
At the moment in Lismore, more than 1000 are sheltering on high ground without a stitch of dry clothing,andfoodisrunningout.Wouldanyonewho hearsthisbroadcast,pleasecontacttheauthoritiesand passamessagefromtheofficerincharge.
Already we know of two deaths. A man and a boy have been drowned near Lismore and the man's body has already been recovered. Last night, nearly 300 people were rescued from their homes by police.
The announcer said police and civilians had worked 36 hours without a break, feeding and caring for the homeless and taking others to placesofshelter,butwiththefewboatsavailable, theycouldnotcopewithalltheappealsforhelp.
Homesweresweptoffblocksandfloatedawayin the floodwaters. and water poured into the town, trappingpeopleinhomesandshops.
The worst flood in memory," he said. "We want you people outside to know what is happening to us here. Two thousand people are homeless and sheltering on high ground."
Ruinedfurniture,clothing,andotherpropertyof about3,000ofLismore's17,000population.
ThefloodshaveDamagedorwreckedmorethan800 homesofabout4,000inthecityandnearbydistricts.
World diamond centres in London, Amsterdam, and Antwerp were scoured for golden diamonds for the brooch presented to the Queen by the Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government. The brooch was made up by a crafts-man who was formerly with Cartier, world-famous Paris jewellers, before coming to Australia six months ago.
TheQueenwasgiftedthe AustralianWattleBrooch,a fantasticjewelthathasbecome oneofherfavourites.Theeyecatchingbrooch,setwithwhite andyellowdiamonds,isdesigned toresemblethenationalflowerof Australia,thewattle.
Thetea-treebloomsareblue-white fivecaratdiamonds.Baguettediamonds formthefoliage,andtheentirebrooch issetinplatinum.
In a hushed silence everyone in King's Hall sat watching the Queen. Finally she looked up at Mr. Menziesandsaid,"Thankyou...thankyou."
Commemorating Her Majesty and her worldacclaimed style. Exquisite wattle brooch a one-ofakind was presented to Queen Elizabeth by the Australian government. Altogether there are 150 diamondsinit.Measuringfourinchesfromtipto tip, it represents a spray of wattle with three stylisedteatreeblossomsinthecentre.Thewattle blossoms are golden diamonds (white stones tracedwithyellow.
It was a chapter in our proud history never forgottenbythosewhowerethere thefirstroyal tourofQueenElizabethtoourshoresin1954.
Her Majesty herself seemed over-whelmed when Mr.Menziespresentedittoherjustbeforetheend oftheStateBanquetinCanberraonFebruary16.
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As Mr. Menzies held out the red leather case containing the brooch to Her Majesty he confessed he couldn't open it. The Queen smilinglytookthecaseandopenedit,thensatfor afewmomentslookingdownintentlyintothe opencase.
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This glowing colour scheme skilfully conveys the freshness of the youthful Queen in an almost impressionistic style.
Intended to commemorate the historic Royal Tour of Australia from February to April 1954, permission to arrange the necessary sittings for this significant portrait was obtained by Prime Minister Robert Menzies.
T h e Q u e e
Her direct gaze conveys her vitality through skilful effecting of thoughtful eyes and expressive mouth. The portrait is commonly thought to present an unusual juxtaposition of a graceful young woman and a regal Queen.
William Dargie signed a limited number of prints of the portrait during the 1950s. Dargie papers, National Museum of Australia n w e a r i n g t h e N o r m a n H a r t n e l l d r e s s o n h e r A u s t r a l i a n t o u r
He was commissioned by Melbourne industrialist James P Beveridge as the first Australian to paint the portrait of the newly crowned Queen.
Norman Hartnell design
In November 1954 Dargie quickly established a rapport with the Queen over five sittings at Buckingham Palace in London. This probably contributed to his depiction of what is agreed to be a good likeness of the Queen.
William Dargie
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Sir William Dargie was an 8-time winner of the Archibald Prize for portraiture and an accomplished war artist with the Australian forces during the Second World War.
DargiedepictstheQueenwearingaNormanHartnellmimosagoldtulledressadornedwithsparklinggoldwattlemotifs.Hartnelldesignedthedressforthe1954Australiantour.ItisunambiguouslypatrioticandeasilyrecognisableasthedresswornduringherfirsteveningengagementoftheroyaltourinSydneyandagaintoherlasteveningfunctioninPerthbeforeleavingAustralia.
Her hair is loosely pinned back under a diamond tiara given to her by her grandmother Queen Mary and she wears a diamond necklace received as a wedding present from Nizam of Hyderabad.
‘Wattle painting’ of Queen Elizabeth II
by William Dargie
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Elizabeth and Margaret with their mother. Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I 1 9 2 6 2 0 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 LISMORE CBD MAGAZINE | 82
Elizabeth II became queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 6 February 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI (1895–1952).
After her Accession on 6th February 1952, the Queen broadcast her first Christmas Message live on the radio from her study at Sandringham, Norfolk.
She even invented a new breed of dog when her corgi mated with a dachshund belonging to her sister, Princess Margaret, creating the “dorgi”.
Her Majesty has sat for a whopping 200 official portraits over her lifetime. The first one ever taken was in 1933, when she was just seven years old by Anglo Hungarian artist Philip Alexius de Laszlo.
Before she became Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth volunteered as a truck driver & mec the serv
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On 9 Sep 2015, Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in British & Commonwealth history when she surpassed the record set by the nearly 64 year reign of her great grandmother Queen Victoria.
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The Queen opened the now-iconic Australian landmark, Sydney Opera House, on 20th October, 1973.
The Queen opened Sydney Opera House
It included sweet peas which were thought to be a nod to the Queen's late husband, Prince Philip. When he died in April 2021, the Queen picked out sweet peas for his funeral wreath, too.
The wreath that sat atop the Queen's coffin, following her death on Thursday 8th September 2022, was made from some of the Queen's favourite flowers, picked from the Balmoral Estate.
Queen's Elizabeth II wreath paid tribute to Prince Philip.
The Queen's funeral (Monday 19th September 2022)
The flowers are often associated with the ideas of departures and goodbyes, meanwhile dahlias can represent a lasting commitment between two people.
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