Sixty and 64 Years Ago

 I remember in 1949 being so terribly disappointed because there was to be a Royal Visit when the then King George 6th and Queen Elizabeth (later The Queen Mother) were to visit Australia, not sure but I seem to correctly or incorrectly remember that the then Princess Elizabeth was also coming.  I remember my Mother telling me that the Princess could not come because she had just had a baby, that of course was Prince Charles.  I think that perhaps as a then five year old, I was simply wanting to see a real Princess and I think that excuse was given to me as a child because it was an easier one for my Mother to use rather than trying to explain the state of the King's ill health to a child.  My Mother bought a makeup mirror for her handbag that was sold as a souvenir of the 1949 Royal Visit that didn't happen, I have photographed it, not easy to photograph as it reflects being a mirror, so this is the best that I could do.

It is only about 5 x 8 cms.

  
It is sixty years ago since a Royal Visit by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh that I remember well.  It was 1954 and during the previous year myself and a number of other girls in my class at Graham Street State School in Port Melbourne were chosen to dance the floral dance before the Queen and Duke.  There had been a visit by Princess Elizabeth prior to this, I think, can't remember the previous one too well, but I do remember being taken with my brother Sid and Mum to St Kilda Road where we waited among the throngs of people to get a glimpse.
Three times a week at school, we were to go to a section of the play ground where we learned the steps to the Floral Dance that we were to perform.  I don't know how many hundred children were there to perform but there was a combination of the Floral Dance and the Maypole performed and it culminated in Spelling out the words "Welcome ER11'.  I found this old photo on later which would have been taken on that day.

Each child was given two tickets so that parents could come along and watch as it was performed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (M.C.G.), my Mother was too busy to go so I gave my tickets to Auntie Hilda who was a keen supporter of the Royal Family, she and her friend and next door neighbour came along as there was also a chance of a close up look at the Queen.

I clearly remember that jeep as it whizzed around through the children as we all stood there hoping that it would stop in front of us, but no such luck, so much to try and fit into a visit with so much to see and do in such a short time.  Each and every one of us that performed on that day were presented with a lovely shiny brass medal as a commemoration of the visit, I still have mine.  It is photographed below.

 

Picture shows both sides of the medal.

This all took place back in the days when we had school assembly every Monday Morning, we all stood at attention and the boys would salute the flag and then all children would place their right hand over their heart and repeat the following:-

                                                          I will Love God and my country,

                                                          I will honour the flag,
                                                               and cheerfully obey my parents,
                                                          Teachers and the Law.

I like to believe that we tried to live up to it. 

My Mother used to tell me a story about the 1944 Royal Visit to Australia by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.  At that time as part of the war effort Mum was working as a Tram Conductress, Men had always held the jobs as conductors until then, but as they were in short supply all being off at war, women were allowed to hold those jobs. During their visit to Australia, it was known that part of their route was to be along St Kilda Road, Melbourne which was a major tram route, and as Mum for some unknown had me with her when I was only a few months old was standing on the running board of the tram nursing me whilst the tram was halted for the Royal cavalcade.  The Royal car which also held the Lady in Waiting drew up along side the tram, with no hesitation the Lady in Waiting reached up to Mum and asked could she have a quick nurse of the baby.  Mum handed me down to here where she cooed etc at me and I gurgled in return, she then handed me back to Mum and Mum was so embarrassed to see a very obvious wet patch down the front of the Lady in Waiting's silk shantung costume.  So there you are, even though I have no memory of it, I have it on good authority that I have peed on Royalty.