It was an extraordinary honour to attend Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. I found the experience deeply moving, and will carry it closely for the rest of my life.
I felt a high intensity of grief seeing her Majesty’s coffin as it entered the Abbey, mourning that her Majesty, who had been a constant presence for so many, was no longer physically here with us. There were many moments which felt like a sensory overload, from the touching choir voices, to the respectful silence in which a pin drop could be heard, the seamless execution & attention to detail with precise timing & positioning of every person – all an outpouring of deep respect to honour an incredible woman devoted to the service of others. Akin to seeing the queue of people waiting to pay their respects before the funeral, I feel emotional processing the enormous impact of her Majesty: the efforts of every person who contributed to the service, the people across the world attending, the millions of people in the streets of London, the billions of people across the world watching – all representing her Majesty’s impact on the entire world. Her life is an incredible example of how much contribution a person can have from a young age, into older age and even their last days.
I have learnt through experiences of death of my family members, friends and patients, that even though they are no longer physically here with us, they still live within us in a different form. They live on through our memories, the stories we share, and the impacts they had on our lives. Her Majesty left a deep impact on the world, and even on the day of her funeral, she continues to deepen that impact, through extending an extraordinary honour for everyday Australians to be present –which has a profound impact on each of us, but also on the Australians who felt represented by us.
Through spending time connecting with the everyday Australians (sadly Chris was unable to join us), 2 things stood out to me: we are a diverse group of people from very different walks of life, ages, and cultures. Secondly, the underlying thread binding our contributions is empowering marginalised groups in our community. Dylan & I through advocacy for people with diverseabilities (my preferred term for disability), Helen, Kim & Danny assisting trauma survivors, Shanna’s support of geographically isolated communities, Saba helping migrants & refugees, Miriam-Rose through creating opportunities for Indigenous children, & Val helping people struck by illness or danger.
One of many things that makes me proud to be Australian is our value of everyone having a fair go, meaning equal opportunity & inclusion for every person, no matter their age, race, gender, culture, or diverseability. Every person matters & holds intrinsic value as a unique human being. I believe the diversity & support of marginalised groups of our everyday Australians is a great representation of Australia’s values of equal opportunity & inclusion. To stand alongside my fellow Australians and represent the values that make me proud to be Australian, I have Her Majesty to thank for this profound experience.
Thank you your Majesty, for the honour of attending your funeral, enabling everyday Australians to be representatives of the inclusion & diversity of our wonderful home.
Thank you for the opportunity to thank our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for extending your invitation and express how much it meant to Australians that felt represented by my presence – Asian Australians, young females, Special Needs Dentistry specialists and oral healthcare professionals. It enabled discussions of equitable access to oral healthcare with our Prime Minister and avenues to action this.
Thank you your Majesty, for your dedication and being an inspiration to follow in your footsteps of contributing for many years to come.
Thank you your Majesty, for the impact you had on the world during your life, and your ongoing impact as you live on in our memories, stories, and through our lives. May you rest in peace.