Aussies in the pews
Nine ‘everyday’ citizens sit surrounded by kings and queens
IN a moment of great privilege, nine Australian citizens, chosen for their “everyday” credentials, will join the most incredible gathering of privilege and power in modern history assembled in Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s funeral.
They will sit in pews surrounded by emperors, presidents, kings and queens – taking up a small corner of the international platform to represent every state and territory across Australia.
“Even though we are Australian citizens supposed to have done extraordinary things, we are carrying a heavy load for our country being here,” Shanna Whan, 48, who, in her own words, had gone from being a “small-town drunk” to winner of the NSW Australian of the Year for her work in alcohol awareness, said. “I just want to say thank you for leading us all these years. It’s all so surreal, I’m just an ordinary girl from country New South Wales leading an ordinary life, I’ve never been to England before.”
Retired Tasmanian police officer and recipient of the Australian of the Year Local Hero award Kim Smith said while he is “not so bothered by the dignitaries” – it’s the size of the crowds that have struck a chord with him. “I admit going to the funeral is daunting, but when I became a police officer I swore allegiance to the Queen, she gave me the courage to carry out my duty.
“The least I can do is attend Her Majesty’s funeral to acknowledge the incredible years of selfless service she gave to her realm nations.”
The “everyday” Australian citizens who flew to London on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s RAAF jet, were late on Sunday Australian time expected to attend a luncheon with Mr Albanese at Australia House, the London home of the High Commission of Australia.
South Australian dentist Trudy Lin, 30, who won this year’s Young Australian of the Year for providing oral healthcare to people with physical and intellectual disabilities and psychiatric illness, visited Whittard tea shop and gift stores for presents for her family. “The funeral is not something I thought I’d be floored by but I suddenly feel a deep sense of duty and responsibility,” she said.
The invitees including Australian of the Year, Dylan Alcott and senior Australian of the Year from this year and last, Valmai Dempsey and local “local heroes” Saba Abraham and Western Australian Australian of the year, Helen Milroy numbered nine in the end.
Born in the bush near Daly River in the Northern Territory, Aboriginal elder Miriam-Rose UngunmerrBaumann, who won 2021 Senior Australian of the Year for her work teaching, felt some excitement as well as trepidation being in London for the first time. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m daunted, I’ll be sitting with kings and queens, it took a bit of organising for us to be invited to come here,” Ms Ungunmerr-Baumann said.