MEMBER for Lyne Dr David Gillespie expressed his “deepest feelings of sadness” upon hearing of the passing of our Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“Queen Elizabeth II was an amazing lady, monarch and leader and a constant in our lives, and I always thought she would last forever, or at least 100,” said Dr Gillespie.

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“She has been a beacon of stability.

“An exemplary leader and source of unity for the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and for our nation in the 70 years of faithful service to us.”

Dr Gillespie recalled early-life memories of the Queen’s visit to Australia in 1963, “as a five-year-old visiting Queanbeyan and Canberra and then many other visits here throughout my life”.

“Waving flags and huge crowds,” he said.

On the four occasions he was sworn into the Ministry and in the Australian Parliament, Dr Gillespie said he was very proud to take the oath in declaring his allegiance to the Queen.

“On the last occasion I was sworn in as a Minister during Covid, I took that same Oath remotely from Wauchope and ensured that with my wife Charlotte by my side, I made sure our Queen was also with us for the event with her portrait in view.

“Our nation and Lyne mourn her passing and our deepest sympathies and condolences go to her family.”

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said, “On behalf of the NSW Police Force, I join the people of Australia, the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and across the world in expressing my deep sadness of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at age 96.

“We acknowledge Her Late Majesty’s service to the community, the people of the Commonwealth and the role she has played in world history since taking the Crown in 1952.

“To this day, NSW Police Force officers swear to ‘well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen as a police officer without favour or affection, malice or ill-will until I am legally discharged, that I will cause Her Majesty’s peace to be kept and preserved, and that I will prevent to the best of my power all offences against that peace, and that while I continue to be a police officer I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all my duties faithfully according to law’.

“In addition to our sworn duties, the NSW Police Force had the honour of welcoming and protecting Her Late Majesty during most of her sixteen visits to Australia throughout her reign, and our Mounted Unit performed their Musical Ride on centre stage at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the same year our force celebrated a milestone of 150 years.”

NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole said Her Late Majesty had been a “tremendous friend to NSW”.

“The affection with which she is held is reflected in the thousands that lined the streets for her visits to places like Bathurst, Dubbo, Lismore, Broken Hill and Wagga Wagga.

“I extend my deepest sympathies to all members of the Royal family who have not only lost a great leader but a mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

“We thank them for sharing her life with so many of us.”