TRIBUTES continue to flow in memory of Her Majesty, The Queen Elizabeth II, following her passing last Thursday at her Balmoral residence in Scotland, aged 96.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a one-off National Day of Mourning would be held on Thursday, September 22, with Australians given the public holiday to remember the late Monarch.

In recognition of Her Majesty’s selfless and dignified reign, messages of gratitude and condolences to The Queen’s family have come from the entire spectrum of the south-west community.

The Southern Grampians Shire Council lowered its flags to half-mast in tribute to The Queen’s 70 years of service to the Commonwealth.

Hamilton resident, Lesley Hobbs, was a young nurse training at the Hamilton Base Hospital and fondly recalled the Royal couple’s visit to Hamilton in 1954, that included a drive-by past the hospital where they regally waved to the inpatients and staff.

Mrs Hobbs said all hospital staff were tasked with bringing the inpatients onto the lawn so they could witness the historic event.

“We were told to bring as many patients down and line them up on the grass as the parade went past,” she said.

“We had people in crutches and wheelchairs.

“I remember everybody getting very excited and thrilled to bits that we were getting a visit from the Royal Family.”

Mrs Hobbs said it was a “very special time” when The Queen visited Hamilton and she still remembers it vividly.

“I think she was wearing a bluey aqua colour and she just looked like an opal,” she said.

“She had the most magnificent skin.

“Everyone was waving and cheering.”

 Mrs Hobbs said she admired the Royal family from a young age and had aspired to be like The Queen, viewing her as a role model.

“The Queen and Princess Margaret were older than me … It was just someone to look up to,” she said.

“(The Royal family) were like a guiding light and I think they were so strong during the horrendous World War II in Britain.”

Using the Queen as a style icon, Mrs Hobbs fondly remembered a time when her mother said she could have a new dress and she sought style inspiration from the Royal family.

“Back then you didn’t buy off the hanger - you had a dressmaker,” she said. 

“She bought the material and I remember diving into the magazines to see what the princesses were wearing.”

One of the 13,000 children that saw Her Majesty at Melville Oval in 1954 was Hamilton resident, Zilla Hallam. 

Mrs Hallam was also in the crowd when the Royal Couple returned to Australia in 1986 and visited Government House, the official residence of the Governor of Victoria in Melbourne.

She was snapping away with her camera as The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, conducted a tour on foot through the crowd.

Mrs Hallam’s camera suddenly jammed, and not one to ever miss a photo opportunity, exclaimed in frustration - “stand still!” - with The Queen, who was in earshot, immediately obliging.

Mrs Hallam described The Queen as gracious and small, with an exquisite complexion.

Notable figures in the south-west have also given their condolences for the passing of Her Majesty, including Wannon MP Dan Tehan who released a statement marking the death of Her Majesty as the passing of an era.

“Her Majesty had a long and dutiful life, and I am confident that historians will describe her reign as magnificent,” he said.

“Queen Elizabeth II was the first reigning monarch to visit Australia in 1954.

Mr Tehan said older residents may remember the excitement of the visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to Hamilton on February 26, 1954, and Portland on April 7, 1970.

“She and Prince Philip also chose to send their eldest son, now King Charles III, to school at Timbertop (Geelong Grammar Year 9) in Victoria.

“And we honour Her Majesty’s service, and we are reminded of the words in the Coronation Service, that we will think of our late Sovereign with ‘happy memory’.”

A condolence book is available at Dan Tehan’s Electorate Offices in Hamilton and Warrnambool.

Information about commemorative events being held at Parliament House is available at aph.gov.au