Royal recollections
• Sharing memories of Queen Elizabeth II alongside royal memorabilia are Peter Fish, Ally Mercer, Jenny Bayles and David Ezzy.
By Taylor Clyne
September 14, 2022
As the region mourns the passing of the longest serving monarch Queen Elizabeth II those who were lucky enough to meet her share their experiences in her memory.
Her Majesty’s first visit to Tasmania was in February 1954, one year after her coronation, and during her 70-year reign she visited the state a further six times.
Whilst never making it as far as the North-East many locals have enjoyed special encounters with Her Royal Highness during those visits.
North Scottsdale’s David Ezzy’s story is quite remarkable being the youngest member of the Australian military to participate in the 1953 coronation.
He was just 20 years old when he embarked on a cruise around the world aboard the HMAS Sydney enroute for Buckingham Palace.
“On the boat we got issued with a bottle of beer each day and we used to pour it into little glasses to make it go further,” he laughed.
“All of the Commonwealth had troupes represented, there were 10,000 of us training in London, it certainly became second nature.
“It was quite an experience and one I hold very dear to have served, I have great feelings of appreciation and recognise the significance of the moment of history.”
During his training for the momentous event Mr Ezzy said he also undertook the duty of guarding Buckingham Palace.
“We used to do two-hour shifts and I do remember having lots of photos with young ladies,” he laughed.
Mr Ezzy met the Queen when he was presented with a medal for his service.
Branxholm’s Christine Booth was just five years old when her father thrust her forward in a sea of people eager to meet the Queen in Brisbane in 1963.
She was wearing a special dress her mother had made and remembers crawling between someone's legs to see her.
“I popped up at just the right time and there she was looking down at a little girl, it was photographed at published by the Courier Mail,” Mrs Booth said.
Scottsdale’s Peter Fish was a 27 year old with long hair teaching at Bridgewater High School in Hobart when he met the Queen in 1977.
“When suggestions were made by the parents and friends board that the Queen should open the newly built school, I remember seeing the numbers of builders increase dramatically and they started to bring in six foot high established trees to landscape,” he said.
“About a week for before the event Secret Service were sent in and they checked everything, every cupboard, every corner.
“I remember the science teacher at the time was extracting oil from eucalyptus leaves in the lab while the phys ed teacher said there was no way the Queen would be entering his brand new gymnasium without wearing appropriate sneakers – which of course never happened,” he laughed.
Springfield’s Jenny Bayles showed the champion Jersey heifer to Her Majesty who presented her with the winner’s ribbon at the Launceston Show in 1981.
She was 17 years old at the time and remembers her being very friendly and asking lots of questions about her cow.
“The Queen had Jerseys herself, so she was interested. I feel very fortunate,” she said.
For Royalist Ally Mercer of Springfield merely being in the same room as the monarch in 1988 was a special highlight of her life.
She has been collecting royal memorabilia for more than 40 years and has quite the assortment.
“My great grandmother was a royalist. She used to have a tiny tray that she did her washing up on and I’ve loved it since I was tiny.
“I’ve collected some really funky things over the time from plates to special tins, hymn books, pens and scarves - lots of beauty things, I’ve got the lipsticks and power puffs too,”
she said.
Mrs Mercer said she believes the future is in safe hands under the reign of King Charles |||.
“He’s lived his whole life knowing that this moment will occur, and he will make a fantastic royal - long live the King.”