A Not - So -Typical Day

Historically the most a-typical day during my time at Westleigh College was when Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11, visited Australia.

She had had her Coronation on June 2nd, 1953 and then embarked on a tour of the Commonwealth.

This trip included places like Bermuda, Jamaica, Uganda, New Zealand and Australia to list just a few.

Her schedule included Melbourne and it also included tours down many suburban streets, including High Street Northcote, so that school children could see their new Sovereign.

It generated a lot of excitement as the only mass-media covering this event was radio, the press and newsreels that were shown at the cinema later. No television as yet!

For this occasion we had to look as perfect as possible as we were going to be lined up in High Street opposite the Northcote Town Hall.

We were asked to bring a pair of clean white socks to change into just minutes before the event: not the usual tan ones.

We were helped to get ready by our teachers and were also given a small plastic or paper Union Jack to wave as the Queen drove by.

We walked down James Street to High Street and took our places. A large black car drove by and stopped just a few feet away from where I was standing.

The Queen and Prince Philip got out of the car and our head-prefect curtseyed, and presented her with a bouquet of flowers that were bound by pink and green ribbons: our school colours. There were miniature silver school badges on each ribbon. A nice touch!

I recall vividly how the Queen looked. She wore emerald green. Her hat and coat were a perfect match. She seemed to be wearing a lot of face powder and pink lipstick. She looked very pretty and I think she made a huge impression on all of us! I suppose it had the same impact as a visit by Princess Diana would have several decades later.

The Royal Family was very big news then. There probably weren't many little girls who didn't have dolls dressed as the Queen, or as her daughter, Princess Anne.


Almost everyone I knew had a picture book relating to the Royal Family. I still have two of them. Sadly the dolls are no longer in my possession.

The pupils were all excited and happy and Miss Clarice really seemed delighted and proud of us all.


Queen Elizabeth II Becomes Britain's Longest-Serving Monarch