The rain held out in Canberra for the few hundred individuals who watched the memorial service on the garden exterior Parliament Home.
Michael and Eileen Smith mentioned they got here to observe as a result of whereas a lot of the focus has been on English memorials for Queen Elizabeth, they needed to be a part of the Australian model.
“Despite the fact that we have been born in England, we got here to Australia to dwell. That is our dwelling,” Eileen mentioned.
“So it’s good that we had a chance to return collectively.”
Michael needed to observe the service as a result of the Queen has all the time been a part of his life.
“I used to be 5 when she was topped in England,” Michael mentioned. “She’s all the time been the Queen.”
The pair, initially from Yorkshire, mentioned they keep in mind going to road events when the Queen was topped.
With no tv on the time, Elieen mentioned neighbourhoods received dressed up of their nicest garments to have fun.
“It was after the warfare, so clearly our reminiscences are of when issues have been tight, in rationing and what was out there. However when the streets received collectively, all of them introduced what they might and turned on the celebration.
“It’s little bits of historical past. And so this, once more, is one other second in historical past.”
