Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton attended a special service at St George’s Anglican Cathedral on 19 September 2022, representing the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth.
The service of commemoration marked the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and was attended by dignitaries across Western Australia. In attendance were:
- His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson APM, Governor of WA, accompanied by Mrs Darrilyn Dawson
- The Hon Kim Beazley AC, former Governor of WA.
- The Hon Kerry Sanderson, former Governor of WA.
- The Hon Malcolm McCusker, former Governor of WA.
- The Hon Dr Ken Michael AC, former Governor of WA.
- The Hon Peter Quinlan, Lieutenant Governor of WA and Chief Justice of WA.
- Sir William Frederick Payne Heseltine GCB GCVO AC QSO, Queen’s Private Secretary of Four years (1986 to 1990). Accompanying him was Lady Heseltine.
- Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas, accompanied by Mrs Zempilas, Lady Mayoress
- Councillor Brent Fleeton
- Councillor Catherine Lezer
- His Worship David McMullen, Mayor of Subiaco
- The Honourable David Templeman MLA, Leader of the House, representing the Premier, Cabinet and Government of WA.
- The Honourable Mia Davies MLA, Leader of the Opposition
Anglican Archbishop of Perth Kay Goldsworthy AO presided over the service which saw a packed Cathedral of people from all walks of life.
At the start of the service, Barry Winmar, Chief Executive of the Institute of Indigenous Wellbeing and Sport led the Welcome to Country.
His Excellency, the Honourable Chris Dawson led a tribute to the late Queen and spoke of her “profound and enduring impact on the world over the past 70 years”.
“In her coronation day speech on 2 June 1953, Her Majesty stated: ‘I have in sincerity, pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life, and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.’ Our sense of loss is in keeping with the immensity of her humility, dedication, and duty. As we come to terms with the end of our late Queen’s great life of example to us all, we offer humble thanks as her subjects, for her life that was guided by faith, by love, and by duty, love for her subjects, including those in Australia and here in Western Australia.”
In her address to the congregation, Archbishop Kay said: “As we gather together, since first hearing the news eleven days ago of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, millions of words have been spoken, and listened to, written and read, prayed aloud, or in silence, broadcast via every media outlet, from people in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth of Nations, and around the world.”
“And these millions of words are being spoken because somehow, Queen Elizabeth was present to us all. And her death has reached into the very heart of our lives and brought to the surface grief and love, and the resolve with which life is lived.”
“We have all spoken our own words, and shared our memories over these days… But there is another word to be spoken – our last word. And that word is one which her life pointed to and rested upon. One in which her life was centered – the Word of God’s love, the Word of God’s promise, God’s presence.”
“The great vision of heaven… is one in which the heavenly throne, rather than being occupied by power, by riches, by one human being, is occupied instead by the God who is described as both shepherd and lamb. The lamb who gave Himself for the life of the whole flock, and the Shepherd, who sees each of them. The vision of heaven is a promise that Christ the good, the loving, the eternal Shepherd, will guide his beloved to springs of eternal life.”
“This vision is one of welcome, and hospitality. It’s the vision of hope which is born of faith in and from the God of love. It’s one way of describing the hope that life is more than now, that God’s love is deeper and richer than we can imagine. And it’s part of the promise, that death is not the last word.”
“Today we can say… that in Queen Elizabeth, we have seen the promise of the Final Word of faith and hope, of Love. And as I reflect, it begs the question from me, what will be the final word to which I give allegiance? Perhaps it begs that question for you too.”
Dean of Cathedral, The Very Reverend Chris Chataway, led the congregation in reciting the Kontakion for the Departed. The chant is said or sung at funerals as a declaration of mortality and the inevitability that life will end, but reminding us of our hope of ever-lasting life as Christians. This sombre piece was also sung at Prince Philip’s funeral, the Queen’s late husband who died in 2021.
At the end of the service, The Royal Anthem, God Save the King was sung and a lone piper led the recessional with a traditional Scottish slow air ‘Iona Boat Song’.
This song was also played as part of the funeral procession of the late Her Majesty The Queen Mother.