GIFT TO QUEEN MOTHER

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28513, 17 February 1958, Page 9

GIFT TO QUEEN MOTHER

Jewelled Brooch From Australia (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) CANBERRA, Feb. 16. The Queen Mother was presented with a diamond and ruby brooch on behalf of the people of Australia by the Prime Minister (Mr Menzies) at a dinner at Government House last night. No reporters or photographers were at the presentation. The cost of the brooch has not been revealed, but it is understood to be about £5OOO. It is in the form of a doubleflowered hibiscus, with leaves and petals in platinum, studded with 364 African diamonds. Thirty-six Burmese rubies pick out the throats, of the flowers. The Queen Mother today worshipped in the 118-year-old Church of St. John the Baptist in Canberra. It was her first public appearance since her arrival from New Zealand on Friday. The congregation of 200 included the Governor-General. Sir William Slim, and Lady Slim, and the United Kingdom High Commissioner, Lord Carrington. Outside the church listening to a loudspeaker relay of the service were more than 1000 Canberra residents. After the church service, the Queen Mother sent personal greetings to the inhabitants of Australia’s outback.

Her Majesty, on arriving back at Government House, met six children who had travelled 3000 miles from North-western Australia to convey greetings from “the children of the inland.”

Her Majesty asked that a message in reply be sent to 12 Flying Doctor bases for relay to 1500 cattle stations throughout Australia’s arid outback. Within a few minutes, the message was being received by the pedal radio stations of outback homesteads.

Two white children, two fullblooded aborigines, a quarter-caste aborigine, and an Italian-born immigrant greeted Her Majesty. Her Majesty's greetings went especially to the very young and very old. Drive to Reservoir

Police officers at Government House yesterday had a surprise when they saw the Queen Mother sweep through the gates in a car driven by Sir William Slim. Her staff, had expected Her Majesty to<*be resting when she decided to go for a drive with the Governor-General. They had not expected her to leave Government House all day. The Queen Mother drove to Cotter Dam, 13 miles away in Canberra’s foothills. About 100 persons at the Cotter Dam reserve were surprised when the Royal car drove slowly up to the reservoir's spillway. When they began cheering and clapping the Queen Mother waved and smiled. A few picnickers hurriedly grabbed cameras as the Queen Mother’s car moved slowly to the spillway, then turned and headed back to Government House.

The drive took only an hour. Yesterday and today have been set aside as days of rest for the Queen Mother to recover from her two weeks’ tour of New Zealand.

Her Majesty lunched at Government House with Sir William Slim and Lady Slim. Tonight she will dine with the Prime Minister. Mr Menzies, and Dame Pattie Menzies at the Prime Minister's Lodge.

This evening Her Majesty is to meet the Australian correspondents who have been assigned by their newspapers to travel with her on her tour of Australia.

Tomorrow, after laying a wreath at the Australian War Memorial, the Queen Mother will open the conference of the British Empire Service League. Later, she will attend a reception to league delegates. but the afternoon and evening will be free of official engagements.

On Tuesday morning, the Queen Mother will leave by Royal Australian Air Force Convair for Brisbane to begin ' her tour of Australia.

Police responsible for guarding the Queen Mother on her Australian tour have been warned to expect greater crowds than those which welcomed the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on their tour in 1954.

Tile Queen Mother’s personal detective. Chief Inspector R. W. Wills, has ordered police and security officials> to tighten the guard around Her Majesty.