QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE BEING MARKED BY NSW

6 February 2012

Sydney: NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has written to Her Majesty The Queen to extend his sincere congratulations on the 60^th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

Mr O’Farrell conveyed to Her Majesty the heartfelt wishes of the people of New South Wales.

“The people of New South Wales, and indeed the nation, deeply admire and respect Her Majesty’s dedication and commitment to the role of Sovereign,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“On their behalf, I wished Her Majesty every happiness on this momentous occasion.

“When opening the New South Wales Parliament in 1954, Her Majesty stated that “nowhere else has Parliamentary democracy demonstrated more effectively its soundness and its adaptability to changing times and needs than in this young and rapidly advancing country”.

“As Queen of Australia, Her Majesty has overseen these changing times and shared in both our greatest achievements and our darkest hours.

“Our best wishes are with Her Majesty today as she marks this historic milestone,” he said.

“I am proud to announce that members of the NSW Mounted Police Force and a select group of Aboriginal performers, led by NSW performers Clarence Slockee and Matthew Doyle, will participate in the official celebrations in London.

“They will attend the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant in May with the support of the NSW Government.

“The NSW Government is also working to coordinate the community lunches to be held across the State over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June.

“The people of New South Wales will be marking this momentous occasion appropriately, whether it’s in Western Sydney, Western New South Wales or amongst those attending the official celebrations in London,” Mr O’Farrell said.

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic Section)