Queen Elizabeth II has died

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government and the people of Australia offer our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are grieving for a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother – the person whom for so long was their greatest inner strength.
“With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, an historic reign and a long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service has come to an end,” he said.
“Australian hearts go out to the people of the UK who mourn today, knowing they will feel they have lost part of what makes their nation whole.
“There is comfort to be found in Her Majesty’s own words: ‘Grief is the price we pay for love’.”
Bankstown RSL Sub-branch President Terry Corcoran said he was lost for words.
“She got us through so many world conflicts, we all looked up to her and she was absolutely the best Commonwealth monarch ever,” he said.
“She was our rock that held everything together, it’s an incredibly sad day and she will be deeply missed like no other.”
East Hills VIEW Club committee member Bev Cheals says that when she heard the news of the Queen’s death on Friday morning, she was immediately transported to 1954.
“As a six-year-old, I stood on the Grand Parade at Brighton and waved to her, not realising the significance,” she said.
“I wasn’t really surprised to hear the news because I thought she looked so frail earlier in the week at the UK prime minister changeover.
“She has been a fantastic international leader and had a great sense of humour; I loved her James Bond and Paddington Bear sketches, a truly marvellous woman and one that has always been there for us.”
Association of Independent Retirees’ Neil Birdsall says he feels devastated.
“It came as a complete shock, I don’t think any of us was ready for it,” he said.
“To me it’s like she was someone in the family always looking over you, that you never met.
“It’s certainly the end of an era.”