Neverland

WHAT AUSTRALIA COULD HAVE BEEN

To be published by Pluto Press, sometime...

Kevin Murray©2002

The Queen’s Annual Christmas Address from Australia

Dear People of Great Britain

I speak to you today from our new residence in the majestic Blue Mountains of New South Wales. It is an auspicious occasion, attended by particular regrets but also much hope.

Who could have foreseen that the roots of English tradition and history might one day be drawn up and transplanted to the other side of the world? Thanks to the foresight of our ancestors two centuries ago, the heart of the commonwealth now finds fresh soil in the southern dominions.

I cannot pretend that our present journey has not been accompanied by a great sadness. It was not easy to forgo the role as figurehead of your great nation. This was a responsibility that I had treated with seriousness and enthusiasm over the decades of my rule.

I note that times have changed. Today Great Britain is a diverse nation, and cannot be represented, albeit symbolically, by such a singular family as my own. We accept that, but are genuinely sorry to leave our dear friends and loyal subjects.

The most important sentiment for me to convey today is gratitude for the kind thoughts that have accompanied our journey. We are most grateful to our new hosts, the Australian people. It was most fortunate that this brave southern nation had carried its loyalty to the crown into the new millennium. At the end of the last century, many were calling for Australian to be head of state. But the majority resisted, recognising that their constitution had passed the text of time. Now their steadfastness has been rewarded and Australians can stand proud in the world as a nation who has one of its own as sovereign.

One of the features we most treasure in our new home is the ethic of justitia ombnibus—a ‘fair go’ for all. My family and I are particularly pleased at the restraint that has thus far been exercised by the local media. It is very different from the intrusive attention to which we had become accustomed. We are most pleased that the Australian people are offering us their legendary ‘fair go’.

But our gratitude extends further than our current hosts. We are thankful to you for the generosity with which you have permitted us to bring our treasures to this new home. Sitting as we are now, in this majestic landscape, it seems a fresh new chapter in the history of the monarchy has been opened. Just as my family's ancestors migrated from Germany to answer the call of the English people all those centuries ago, so we now respond to the needs of your fellows that have created a new English nation at the other end of the world.

The purpose of our journey has been to preserve rather than break tradition. You will be pleased to know that we have established a Royal Australian Museum, with branches in each of the states. The towns of Manjimup, Maranboy, Atherton, Windsor, Warrnambool, Barossa, Canberra and Queenstown have benefited greatly from increased visitation. Indeed, we are told that tourism, particularly from the Asian region, has increased threefold since the establishment of these centres. 

We are also very optimistic about the Royal House of Australian Wool. This new institution promises to realise the potential of the wonderful fibres grown in this wide brown land by designing unique Australian products, such as tartan suits and desert rugs. Indeed, we have been flooded with proposals to use our royal imprimatur for the support of local industries. Though we will necessarily be careful to uphold the standards associated with our family, we are happy to support the bold aspirations of our new hosts.

It is in Asia that we feel our family has an important role to play as ambassadors, not only of Australia, but also the commonwealth in general. Prince William’s recent visit to Indonesia has won for our country new friendships in the region. His study of the Koran and mastery of the Indonesian language has impressed his hosts. We are glad that relations with our northern neighbours are developing so well, and we look forward to realisation of a truly post-colonial commonwealth which will include those who were once members of the Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, French and German empires as well as our own. Prince Charles has also had great success in gathering parties together to formulate the first draft of a treaty with the Aboriginal peoples of this land, which will be presented at a referendum next year. Harry, Prince of Tasmania, has enjoyed setting up leadership camps for trouble youth. Our family have never been more productively occupied.

This coming year promises to be an anus mirabilis. Our family has a busy schedule of events planned for the royal houses. We would certain welcome any of you to partake in these activities and visit our new homes. We would like to share our rejuvenated mission and enjoy with you the extended reach of the Commonwealth.

May I, in this my sixtieth annual message to you, once again wish every one of you a very happy Christmas.

Queen Elizabeth I of Australia