FAREWELL TO BRISBANE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27302, 19 March 1954, Page 11

FAREWELL TO BRISBANE

Queen Leaves For South

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 18. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were in three Australian States today when a new phase of the Royal tour began. They said farewell to Queensland, made a final call in New South Wales, and arrived in South Australia to begin their tour of that State. About 250,000 people lined Brisbane’s streets and crowded Eagle Farm aerodrome to give the Queen and the Duke a gala farewell in brilliant sunshine. About 8000 at the aerodrome cheered, coo 7 eed and sang “Auld Lang Syne” as the couple made their farewells. As the Royal car moved along the 10-mile route from Government House to the aerodrome, work came to a standstill while all Brisbane gave the Royal couple a full-throated send-off. Streamers fluttered across the main streets, torn-up paper floated like confetti from the tops of buildings, and balloons were let loose by young admirersi Judges and barristers in their robes, and officials of Queensland’s Supreme Court stood on chairs outside the Courthouse to watch the Royal couple depart. In a colourful but sad farewell at the airport the Queen was appealed to by sections of the crowd to “come back again.” The Queen lowered her head as she walked toward the plane as though overcome by the send-off. Women gathered at the airport wept as the Royal Constellation. took off on its 1000-mile flight to Broken Hill in New South Wales, where the Royal couple made a brief stop. At Broken Hill Gay crowds, swarms of flies, and sweltering heat greeted the Royal couple on their arrival at Broken Hill, and they received a cheering welcome along the Royal progress route. The flies appeared to worry the Queen, and she frequently brushed them from her back and shoulders as, she walked across the tarmac after the Royal plane landed.

For hundreds of people in Australia's most remote and desolate areas the Queen became a living reality when she spoke over the “Flying Doctor” radio network. The radio carried the Queen’s voice over halt a million square miles of softwood sage and near desert. Outback people heard her as they clustered around receivers in New South Wales, Queensland, South Austoalia. and the Northern territory. The Queen was replying to an address of welcome on behalf of outback people made to her through the network by Mrs W. Mitchell, who spoke from 300 miles away on the shores of Lake Eyre. Even as the Queen left the “Flying Doctor” base, a call came through from Mrs Mitchell, who reported that while she was speaking to the Queen an accident had occurred when a rusty piece of steel from a broken spring slashed a man’s arm. The “Flying gave medical advice. Thousands welcomed the Royal couple when they arrived in Adelaide in the evening. Although their drive from the aerodrome to Government House was hot the official Royal procession—this will be held tomorrow—the route was packed by tens of thousands of people, who gave the Queen a tumultous reception. The Queen and the Duke will spend seven full days in South Australia before leaving for West Australia.