Locals remember 1992 Royal Tour visit in Dubbo

The Late Queen made 16 visits to Australia during her reign, first in 1954, most recent 2011. It was reported that the Royal Tour in 1954 practically stopped the nation when an estimated one million people out of 1,863,161 living in Sydney at the time came out to see The Queen.

Most recent visit to Dubbo in February 1992 when The Queen and Prince Phillip were welcomed by the mayor Tony McGrane accompanied by Marion Ferrier.

Nick Grenier was premier of NSW at time. The Dubbo city choristers sang God Save The Queen as she walked past the rotunda in Church Street and then she met with her people. My hsuband Jeff and I, were part of the Dubbo crowd, estimated at 25,000 that day. She wore a blue and white patterned dress, with a white and blue, off the face hat.

Wasn’t very close but remember thinking she was beautiful. While in Dubbo the couple visited the School of Distance Education, Dubbo Civic Centre where they viewed the Australian Stage Coach Display and had lunch.

After lunch The Queen visited Western Plains Zoo and Prince Phillip flew out of Dubbo to Williamstown RAAF Base.

(Tony McGrane had been president of Gilgandra shire for 16-years and was mayor of Dubbo 1991-1999).