jubilee

The triumphant 1954 tour was to be the first of a total of eight visits she would make to Queensland. On the first visit, Queen Elizabeth was accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, and spent seven days in Queensland. Public holidays were declared and people turned out in their thousands to see the Royal couple. From childhood, The Queen was held in great affection by Queenslanders and was respected and admired throughout her long and successful reign for the impeccable, gracious and dignified service she gave. Source: www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/government-house/office-of-the-go...

The logistics of a Royal Visit are necessarily complicated and a great deal of time was spent on the program, security, and transport arrangements. Everything was planned down to the minute. Traffic arrangements for the 1954 Royal Visit to Queensland were the sole responsibility of and were arranged by, the Commissioner of Police. At 2.30 p.m. the Royal Progress will leave Eagle Farm Airport on a signal from the State Director at 6 m.i.h. for Exhibition Grounds (Route 1, Map 1) via Lamington Avenue, (2.36) Nudgee Road, (2.40) Kingsford Smith Drive, (2.57) Breakfast Creek Road, (3.03) Ann Street, (3.11) Brunswick Street, (3.16) Lower Gregory Terrace where Cars 1 and 2 will accelerate to provide an interval of 75 yards between Car 2 and the Royal Car. A Mounted Escort will take up a position in the lead of and to the rear of the Royal Car. Cars 4 to 15 inclusive will reduce speed to enable the rear of the Mounted Escort to take up a position. The Motor Cycle Escort will detach itself from the Progress and rejoin the Progress at the corner of Roma and Makerston Streets. The Queen and her entourage of 38, landed in Brisbane at 2.15 pm on March 9, 1954. The Royal Progress took the Royal couple from the Airport to the Exhibition Ground; the Shrine of Remembrance and then onto Government House. The Queensland Police Motorcycle units were top and tail of the procession until it reached Lower Gregory Terrace, at which the Police Mounted unit slotted into a lead and followed the royal car through the streets of downtown Brisbane. The Motorcycle Unit picked up the tour at Roma Street and lead it out to Government House. Source: mypolice.qld.gov.au/museum/2021/09/14/from-the-vault-quee...

Daily newspapers filled their columns with royal updates and ‘tiny details,’ describing events on the Queen’s schedule. On 17 March on one of these occasions, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was greeted by more than 3,000 women who attended a reception for her in Brisbane’s City Hall, accompanied by Mrs. Gair, wife of the Queensland Premier, The Honourable V. C. Gair. Representatives from 18 women’s organisations were presented to the Queen and another 130 organisations carried flowers and bouquets as floral tributes to give to Her Majesty. These were later distributed among various hospitals in Brisbane. Source: www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/hear-ye-hear-ye-its-1954-and-her-...

" "I am very glad to be with you today and to have this opportunity of meeting representatives of the women's organisations of Queensland. "The wide scope of Interest you represent is sure evidence of the valuable part that is being played by the women of Queensland in this State, and in the national life of Australia, to an ever-increasing degree since the war, and no doubt because of it the influence of women is being extended beyond the home. "This is right, for there is a great deal that women can do in many spheres of public life, not only in arts and in medicine, and in education, but also in commerce and in the business of Government. "Indeed. I do not think that there is any field of human activity in which the influence of women cannot be joined profitably to that of men for the two are complementary, and together create a balanced attitude to life and its problems. THOSE GREAT VIRTUES "But woman's paramount duty will always be in the home and towards her family where the virtues that make for human welfare and happiness have their origin. "It is there that women are not only most useful but also find their truest fulfillment. "I wish you all every possible success in the work you are doing here in the great cities and outposts of settlement, and I pray the family life of Queensland will always continue to bring happiness and strength to her people." Source: trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/212330864?searchTerm=c... The Queen addressed the women's audience at City Hall, Brisbane 1954.