A day out at Government House with the Queen will be a special memory for Tas de Pury.
By Mara Pattison-Sowden
TAS de Pury is still in awe after coming face to face with the Queen.
The Gruyere Primary School student said fear of the unknown made the experience a little “scary” but it was also exciting.
“I was nervous but I wanted to meet her,” he said.
“I didn’t find out until a few days before.”
The 11-year-old was one of three students from the eastern region representing Victorian primary schools for the Queen’s visit at Government House on Wednesday 26 October.
Tas said the room was full of politicians he recognised, such as the Premier Ted Bailliau, the media, other students and flood and bushfire victims.
They had to arrive several hours earlier and he mingled with other guests until the Queen arrived.
“She had a lot of people with her, Prince Philip was there and her assistants,” he said.
“We had to sing Advance Australia Fair and God Save the Queen and we had to call her Your Majesty.
“I had to bow, and the girls with me presented her with flowers.”
Tas said he was still trying to find photos of the occasion as the security was strict and no mobile phones or cameras could be taken in.
“We had to go through a metal detector on the way in – there was a lot of security,” he said.
“Apparently people saw me on the news, but I only saw the top of my head.
“Mum already knew I was going but when I told dad he didn’t believe me at first.”
Gruyere Primary School principal Michelle Upton said she too had only been informed of the invitation several days before the event, and it was all kept “hush-hush”, but she said it was a wonderful experience for any school to be represented.
“I chose Tas because he understood how it all fitted in and the enormity of it,” she said.
“He has a very calm persona and can still speak when he’s nervous, so I knew he could handle the situation.
“I think as he gets older he’ll reflect on it, but we’re hoping somewhere along the line to find a photo.”
