College Captains' Message

At 96 years old, the death of Queen Elizabeth II should not have been such a shock and yet, strangely, it was. On Friday morning, in the middle of Year 12 block, we put down our palm cards and watched the news. Queen Elizabeth was not just the only monarch we’ve ever known, but the only monarch, our parents have ever known. The phrase, London Bridge is Down, signifying the death of the Queen, genuinely did feel like something had broken. It almost felt like something we thought was eternal suddenly wasn’t. So, no matter what your personal beliefs about the monarchy, we feel it is right to acknowledge Queen Elizabeth II, as a human being, as a leader, and as a woman.

At her coronation in 1953, the Queen made this promise, “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.” She was 25 years old. When she promised this, she could not have known that her life would, in fact, be very long, that she would live to 96 years old. And yet she kept her promise for 70 years. 

So, we think it’s worth spending a moment reflecting on this. How many people have dedicated themselves to a role for 70 years, a role they never actually chose and a role they were still working on, two days before their death, at 96 years old? That, when you think about it, is beyond belief.

In her Christmas day speech in 1957, the first to be televised, Queen Elizabeth acknowledged her limitations, that she couldn’t lead in wars or laws, but she said, “I can give you my heart and my devotion.” And she did exactly that. She has served with 16 Australian Prime Ministers during her reign, from Robert Menzies to Anthony Albanese, and 15 UK Prime Ministers, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss. She epitomised dignity and service. 

Mia and I have placed strong value on the idea of servant leadership, a concept that is not only dear to us but central to the college ethos. We cannot think of anyone who embodies this more. 

As young women, we might not agree with what the royal family stands for, but we believe it is important to acknowledge her as someone who has dedicated her life to being a role model to many. Some may question her role, and that is not something we wish to comment on, but we feel this should not be incompatible with showing respect for and paying tribute to an extraordinary leader and an extraordinary woman.

So, while we are saddened, we would also like to give thanks to her and like many have said in recent media correspondence, we, too are so proud to have lived during the second Elizabethan age. May she rest in peace.