Queen's Visit and the thoughts on a Republic

[Guest guest59652]

Good luck - there are plenty of folks on here who I am sure will talk you through options of getting out here.

[Guest51810]

Good luck - there are plenty of folks on here who I am sure will talk you through options of getting out here.

 

Yeah everyones great on here and been very helpful. They definitely sell australia for me! I just want to try it outand then if we decide to come back after a few years then thats fine.

[Guest guest59652]

if your wanting to come as a couple guess its tricky. are you in the bracket for a working holiday visa. what makes you want to come to oz - long term dream or seen things recently in the media about?

[Mandy28]

I recently went to Buckingham Palace (12 th Oct) as my Father received an MBE from the Queen.

I've never been much of a Royalist but the whole thing blew me away. I was sat 20ft away from the Queen and she honoured 88 people that day. Brucie Bonus was 2nd up for his Knighthood. Not a fan of Bruce either.

But the Queen was amazing.

All of the 88 being honoured were given a briefing before hand and the procedure was explained. Most of the 88 bowed there heads or curtsied. There were a few people who forgot and either just walked off or the others that realised their error and took a step or two back and bowed there head or curtsied before walking off again.

To me it's a mark of respect to curtesy.

 

Slightly off topic but just my opinion.

[SHANO7]

I'm English

 

I have never been a royalist never will be. I like William and Harry as in my opinion they are the best people to have come out of the Royal family in a long time along with Zara Philips. Three people that understand modern life and that are tuned in with people. Enjoy a laugh without being worried about causing too much offence.

 

If I saw them I would shake their hands as that is what respect is. I wouldnt bow or curtesy as I feel this is not any more respectful than a hand shake and a smile. If people want to Curtesy or bow.. fine... doesnt mean everybody should or feel like they have too. Its a decision that should be made by the person at the time. I dont bow or curtsy to my parents and they are the only people that command my respect.

 

I also am not a lover of our National Anthem. Tradition has dictated this but I cannot get emotiional or stirred about an Anthem directed at an individual. I would much rather have Land of Hope and Glory.

 

I own up to not knowing a great deal about the Royal Family and that might be ignorance on my part. Or on the other hand maybe its because I'm not really that bothered about them to want to know.

 

Good original post and its subsequent debate but lets remember we all have our opinions and by returning posts trying to second guess people opinions will not change people minds.

 

We are string willed

[Guest guest59652]

Mandy - gorgeous gorgeous post. You must have been so proud. She is truly an amazing woman and it gives me so much pride to have a royal family - so what if they have had tabloid scandal - to me it humanises them and makes them a little bit like us mere mortals.

 

Her presence will make some people very happy. Australia is a great place but is somewhat isolated from what happens in the rest of the world. Hence it is great for the country when the Queen comes. She is no doubt proud to be Head of State of this great country. It is different to her being Queen back at home but its a proud reminder of our past position involving the commonwealth etc. The British role in forming australia should be remembered and the queen is a fitting example to this.

Who else would fill the role better - Miss Gillard one asks???

[Guest51810]

if your wanting to come as a couple guess its tricky. are you in the bracket for a working holiday visa. what makes you want to come to oz - long term dream or seen things recently in the media about?

 

 

Yeah I'm 21 so i can jump on a whv anytime but i dont want to go alone, want to go together. Its hard because theres so much work over there for him and none here. They're desperate for operators but the government dont make it easy to sponsor, well thats what the companies are saying anyway but things are changing slowly so im hoping by next year we'll be okay to go. No its always been a long term dream for me, Dave says he wishes he had went when he was younger but he was just being a typical lad at that age. Theres so many plus points for me - the wildlife is a huge one, weather, beaches, a lot more job opportunities ( although that wouldnt be hard at the moment!) and basically just the chance to live somewhere else for a few years. The way i see it is we're young, no mortgage, no kids and things arent great in the Uk at the moment so may aswell go the now, not really got anything to loose. Although we have two dogs but ones too old to come and the other one would be heartbroken to be away from him so they'll stay behind with daves mum which will break my heart! :sad:

[Mandy28]

Like I said I'm never been a fan of the Royal Family and really only thought they were good for our tourist industry.

That day the Queen was brilliant at her age she was shaking everyone's hand, hand a little chat with people, thanked them for all there hard work and efforts and congratulated them. She even was stepping down off of her platform to bend down to place the award of people's chests who were in wheelchairs. Yes she was just doing her job but she was blooming marvellous.

I was in awe of the ceremony and all the pomp and circumstance that came with it.

Just a shame I'll never get to go again.

[Guest51810]

hey mandy, great post. you must of been really proud of your dad x

[Mandy28]

hey mandy, great post. you must of been really proud of your dad x

 

Thanks Stacey, I was and still am.

46 years serving Queen and county is something to be proud of.

His career choice but he has done really well.

:notworthy:

[Guest51810]

Definitely! its not something many people are given x

[pablo]

Pablo - I adore the Queen - she is the ultimate human - for that she deserves to be bowed and generally worshipped.

 

Good for you,enjoy........

[Guest51810]

he told me he was being sarcastic... i dunno, im useless at telling when people are being sarcastic

[pablo]

Have you ever wondered why MP's address each other in Parliament as 'My honorable friend' or why there is a specific space between the PM and the Leader of the Opposition, or why we have a 'Speaker' or why we have 'Black Rod'? Perhaps you watch Parliament in operation and wonder why they stuff around with such old-fashioned and archaic practices?

 

Find the answer to those questions and you might find out why the Queen and other members of the Royal Family are treated in a certain way.

 

You might find out why we have had a monarch for over a thousand years too, whilst other countries have dispensed with theirs, often with disastrous results too.

 

Some of those ways have disappeared of course - we don't expect the Queen to eat in public We don't believe that the monarch's 'touch' will cure illnesses although she still dispenses 'Maundy money' (I think?)

 

The Royal Family does, slowly, try to change with the times. Sometimes, they miscalculate the public mood, for example after the death of Diana.

 

In Japan I think they still believe the Emperor is a God. In Thailand it's a criminal offence to insult the King.

 

What is a curtsey anyway, other than just another expression of courtesy. Shaking hands (now WHERE did that come from?), kissing, holding a door open for someone, gentlemen walking on the pavement side of a lady (WHY?!) One of the barman at the Strawberry Hills Hotel addresses me as 'sir'. Is that archaic and outdated? Should I be offended that he does not say 'Gidday mate, what can I get you?'

 

 

No,i wonder WHY MPs address themselves as honourable only because most of them arent,thats all.

Yes btw,i agree archaic and old fashioned ,all part of the british class/them and us society,not into all that tbh,some might find it quaint,i find it pompous,you like it all? i dont,end of.

Nobody curtseys to me or "normal" people,so no,its not just courtesy,its a nod towards subserviance.

I dont let anybody call me sir,i ask them to call me by my name,dont like the sir lark,if you do thats your choice.

[Guest sh7t man no way]

i think Australia should not have anything 2 do with our queen--im not a royalist--in fact i don't see the need for a royal family:no:2 me there just parasites--but i suppose its our history,and culture--i think its about time Australian got its own history,and culture,and stopped living of ours--i mean cant they have a rolf harris day or sumfin,mind you he much prefers the UK--surely there's got 2 be something a new country can attach its self 2:confused:still being the fair minded chap that i am i suppose its allright really:mad:

[MARYROSE02]

No,i wonder WHY MPs address themselves as honourable only because most of them arent,thats all.

Yes btw,i agree archaic and old fashioned ,all part of the british class/them and us society,not into all that tbh,some might find it quaint,i find it pompous,you like it all? i dont,end of.

Nobody curtseys to me or "normal" people,so no,its not just courtesy,its a nod towards subserviance.

I dont let anybody call me sir,i ask them to call me by my name,dont like the sir lark,if you do thats your choice.

 

I should do some 'Googling' to see if I am right but I think those things they do in Parliament, whether here or in UK, are to stop them getting too angry? If you keep saying 'my honourable friend over there' it reduces it at least a little.

 

The distance between the two leaders, again, I think it just outside an outstretched arm holding a sword?

 

Black Rod pretending to pull the Speaker at the start of Parliament goes back to when it was a VERY unpopular role. (maybe having to convey unwelcome words to the King?)

 

All the noise and lounging about is supposed to emphasise their freedom inside the House.

 

I'm being vague because I remember snippets from 'O' Level 'British Constitution!' But if you date our Parliamentary tradition back to, say, Magna Carta in 1215, well, that is nearly 800 years of slow change that links King John to Queen Elizabeth II and Australia continues that tradition.

 

I guess that is why I am so anti-republican - it's as if people are saying to me 'get rid of all that hide-bound, stuffy rubbish. This is egalitarian, Jack's as good as his master here.' Some of that may be true but why, as they say, toss out the baby with the bathwater.'

 

Funny what you said about 'being called sir!' I read in the paper here that a bloke was doing some business in a bank and the young bloke working there said 'Well, 'Frank' how can I help you?' and he said 'my name IS Harvey' (meaning Mr Harvey) and the young bloke just said 'OK, Harvey.'

 

Aren't they much more formal in Europe? Seem to recall going into French shops and immediately saying 'Monsieur, Madame?'

[MARYROSE02]

he told me he was being sarcastic... i dunno, im useless at telling when people are being sarcastic

 

Perhaps that means you have a very GOOD quality then Stacey. If you don't know when they are being sarcastic, you'll never be so bitter and twisted yourself with the people you love!

 

They do say that 'sarcasm is the lowest form of wit' too. (Who said it? Disraeli, maybe?)

 

I don't mind if people call me 'sardonic' mind. (better just look that up to check it is a compliment though!)

[Guest51810]

I sometimes use sarcasm but not very often. I find it hard to tell if someones been sarcastic on here, its different when your actually talking to them

[pablo]

I guess it all boils down to if you like/are more comfortable with the status quo,IE the majority of the british public want to keep the royal family,i dont,but thats ok,each to their own.

From other posts/threads of yours you seem to like things as they are,im refering to your opinion on the protests about the bank bail outs etc.

Personally i dont think the british public do enuf protesting,as far as im concerned its banks,big business,and especially commodities brokers who run the world,and therefore decide whether people in some of the poorer countries eat or starve,but thats just my opinion again,so yes i'd vote for change,greater checks/rules on big business and their dubious practices,but it wont happen,too many palms get greased.

[MARYROSE02]

I guess it all boils down to if you like/are more comfortable with the status quo,IE the majority of the british public want to keep the royal family,i dont,but thats ok,each to their own.

From other posts/threads of yours you seem to like things as they are,im refering to your opinion on the protests about the bank bail outs etc.

Personally i dont think the british public do enuf protesting,as far as im concerned its banks,big business,and especially commodities brokers who run the world,and therefore decide whether people in some of the poorer countries eat or starve,but thats just my opinion again,so yes i'd vote for change,greater checks/rules on big business and their dubious practices,but it wont happen,too many palms get greased.

 

People have an insatiable urge to consume, whether it's mobile phones, televisions, cars, holidays abroad, home refurbishment.

 

Nobody forces them to go into debt, to take out loans, to 'max' out on their credit cards..

 

The worst corruption is not in the 'First World' democracies where the bulk of the financial corporations are situated, but in the 'Third World.'

 

Capitalism & democracy, however flawed, is still the best way to govern.

[pablo]

People have an insatiable urge to consume, whether it's mobile phones, televisions, cars, holidays abroad, home refurbishment.

 

Nobody forces them to go into debt, to take out loans, to 'max' out on their credit cards..

 

The worst corruption is not in the 'First World' democracies where the bulk of the financial corporations are situated, but in the 'Third World.'

 

Capitalism & democracy, however flawed, is still the best way to govern.

 

 

Im not talking about personal debt,im talking about banking institutions being able to take massive risks knowing they will be bailed out by the gvnmt if it goes wrong.

 

 

Google BP Niger delta,its first world companies who grease the palms of gvnmt in third world countries.

[kirra]

Im Australian and in the UK (lived here for 10 yrs). Ive been watching the UK news and constantly being told about the Queens visit and hearing how well she's being received and how Australians are flocking to meet her. If I listen to the media here its being painted that Australians are falling over themselves to see her,,hmmm OK, really? Almost like shes is doing Australians a favour by gracing them with her presence.

 

I maybe wrong but I dont think anyone really wants to SEE THE QUEEN. I think she's a celebrity as such and people are just queuing up to catch a glimpse. I believe if you ask most of the people 'so, are you here because you're a royalist?', the answer would be 'no, just thought Id check her out'. The Queen has been 'the queen' my whole life and my parents whole life. She's a public figure and people will go and take a look if given the chance, but I dont think many 'care' or 'are there to show support and show her we are proud royalists'.

 

The british media though has been obsessed with reporting on her every move and wanting to satisfy maybe the British public that Australia 'cares' about it all. Im not so sure Australia does and I really dont think the British public gives two hoots about her visit and whether Australia cares either! :wink:

[Guest guest37336]

No,i wonder WHY MPs address themselves as honourable only because most of them arent,thats all.

Yes btw,i agree archaic and old fashioned ,all part of the british class/them and us society,not into all that tbh,some might find it quaint,i find it pompous,you like it all? i dont,end of.

Nobody curtseys to me or "normal" people,so no,its not just courtesy,its a nod towards subserviance.

I dont let anybody call me sir,i ask them to call me by my name,dont like the sir lark,if you do thats your choice.

 

'Honourable' Pablo can ONLY be applied to three MP's that I can think of, and I know full well that they would gag at being addressed in such a way.:yes:

 

As far as I am concerned the days of an 'iconic' MP has long gone mate, and as for Parliamentary Privilege, give it a rest, a scum bag liar is a liar in any ones language, and no matter if a dustman or MP a liar is a liar.

 

Problem is when an MP lies nine times out of ten it causes far more grief to the wider community.

 

I read somewhere on here that Capitalism is good and the way to run a country, yep great, if you can afford to be a capitalist. What people forget is that many thousands if not millions of families are on the bread line through NO FAULT of their ow,

 

I completely agree that 'some' overspent, and now they are reaping the rewards, but poverty and struggle will always be evident, because at the end of the day those with little will always be targeted in a manner that is contemptible in the 21st century.

 

Sorry mate, rant over, (maybe,:embarrassed::idea:)

 

Cheers Tony.

[hmsmark]

I'm an American who is applying for Australian Perm Residency, so I don't have anything to do with Britain or it's Queen. However, my Mom was a Brit, and an outright socialist who railed against the Queen and anything monarchy. After moving to America, she wouldn't even go to Canada for the longest time because the Queen was the Head of State.

 

That said, I think Australia needs to look long and hard at what being a Republic means. Look at America's government today. Our political system almost drove the nation into default, which would have driven much of the world into economic depression, and we can't get anything done. The President vetoes what the legislature does, and one house of Congress stops the other's bills dead just because it is run by the other party.

 

I think power really needs to be centered in one place like one house of Parliament, like you see in the UK, Australia, and other parliamentary democracies. While Australia and the other Commonwealth nations could replace the Queen, why bother if the new Head of State will be powerless? Australia already has a powerless Head of State in the Queen, government works relatively well, so why fix what isn't broken? Plus, you run the risk of breaking the system if you get a President who is supposed to be powerless, but has other ambitions. The Queen, or future King, won't do that, and if they did, no one in Oz would listen to them anyway.

[Guest guest37336]

Im Australian and in the UK (lived here for 10 yrs). Ive been watching the UK news and constantly being told about the Queens visit and hearing how well she's being received and how Australians are flocking to meet her. If I listen to the media here its being painted that Australians are falling over themselves to see her,,hmmm OK, really? Almost like shes is doing Australians a favour by gracing them with her presence.

 

I maybe wrong but I dont think anyone really wants to SEE THE QUEEN. I think she's a celebrity as such and people are just queuing up to catch a glimpse. I believe if you ask most of the people 'so, are you here because you're a royalist?', the answer would be 'no, just thought Id check her out'. The Queen has been 'the queen' my whole life and my parents whole life. She's a public figure and people will go and take a look if given the chance, but I dont think many 'care' or 'are there to show support and show her we are proud royalists'.

 

The british media though has been obsessed with reporting on her every move and wanting to satisfy maybe the British public that Australia 'cares' about it all. Im not so sure Australia does and I really dont think the British public gives two hoots about her visit and whether Australia cares either! :wink:

 

Hi Kirra.

 

I think you make a very valid point.

 

This day and age a 'celeb' is anyone who seems to have fifteen minutes of fame. To an extent the Queen has become a 'celeb' in many peoples eyes.

 

Though she has been around for years the present climate seems to dictate that to 'some' she is no more than a celebrity who must be seen. It may not be because she is the Queen, to be seen with respect, more a view, 'Ohhh, Look it's the Queen, get the camera'.

 

I come from a family of Royalists, (don't know what went wrong with me,:biglaugh:) and they are of an age that they view the Queen BECAUSE she is the Queen of England, not because she is a 'celeb'.

 

Hope you get my drift Kirra, I don't.:biglaugh::wacko:

 

Cheers Tony.