Over Sixty Spring 2022 Digital

7 NEWS OVERSIXTY.COM.AU | ISSUE 2 | 2022 CHARLOTTE HILTON ANDERSON NEWS Q ueen Elizabeth’s death on September 8, 2022, marked the end of an incredible era.NotonlywassheBritain’slongest-serving monarch, with 70 years on the throne, but she was also the most widely travelled head of state in the world, making her one of the most influential figures in modern history. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born on April 21, 1926. On February 6, 1952, after the death of her father, King George VI, the then-25-year-old Elizabeth was crowned in an elaborate coronation ceremony. It was the first televised British coronation, and that unprecedented access to the royals helped endear her to so many people worldwide. Queen Elizabeth ruled alongside 15 UK prime ministers, including short-lived PM Liz Truss, who she formally appointed just two days before her passing. During her reign, Elizabeth worked alongside six archbishops of Canterbury andmet with five popes. Her seven decades of rule sawmany major events and milestones. Some of the historic moments during Queen Elizabeth’s reign include six major wars (including WWII), the Remembering Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in numbers One million: People estimated to have attended the public funeral procession in London Four billion: TV viewers worldwide who watched the funeral service and procession, a new world record 250,000+: People who queued to see Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin lying in state 10 miles (16km): The longest length of the queue to see the Queen’s coffin 240: People in the queue who were taken to hospital for treatment 5949: Military personnel deployed throughout the events 2000: Dignitaries and guests who attended Westminster Abbey 800: Guests at a committal service later in the day at St George’s chapel 10,000+: Police officers policing the events, surpassing the number at the London 2012 Olympics 125: Movie theatres that opened their doors to broadcast the funeral live 2868: Diamonds in the Imperial State Crown that rested on the queen’s coffin as it lay in state We look back on the legacy and influence of Queen Elizabeth II: April 21, 1926 – September 8, 2022 Photos: Getty Images NEWS NEWS decolonisation of Africa, the moon landing, the formation of the European Union, the return of Hong Kong to China, the introduc- tion of the internet (and all the life-chang- ing technology that came from it), the fall of the BerlinWall, Brexit and the Covid-19 pan- demic. Here is a list of some of Elizabeth’s greatest accomplishments throughout her life. She inspiredher nation throughWWII In 1945, the future Queen Elizabeth became the first female member of the royal family to join the armed services as a full-time active member, joining the Women’s Auxiliary Ter- ritorial Service, where she served as a driver and a mechanic. This cemented her image as a royal of the people, something the British people came to know and love her for throughout her reign. Sheestablished theCommonwealth When she first took the throne, the British Empire – once regarded as the largest on earth – was rapidly collapsing. Even though shewas still inher 20s, Elizabeth ralliedworld leaders to join the Commonwealth, allowing countries to maintain their independence She made the crown gender neutral In 2013, she introduced the Succession to the Crown Act, which allowed for the crown- ing of the eldest child in line for the throne – whether boy or girl. This eliminated cen- turies of favouring men and gave women a clear place in British royalty. but still work together. Under her leadership, this association of sovereign states went from eight members to the 54 members it is today. She strengthened the monarchy When she started, the British monarchy was seen as aloof and out of touch, in danger of becoming irrelevant. With her “walkabout” foreign tours and smart use of media, she single-handedly turned that around. Elizabeth was on the forefront of technol- ogy, using radio, television, print and even- tually the internet and social media to share a uniquely personal glimpse into the royal family and government. She reunited England and America Considering the rift between England and the colonies happened centuries ago, you might’ve assumed monarchs had paid a vis- it to US Congress before Elizabeth became queen. But that’s amyth. InMay 1991, Queen Elizabethwas the first Britishmonarch to ad- dress the US Congress, cementing the coun- tries’ strong alliance. After giving her speech, she received three standing ovations, and is partly credited with the friendly relationship the two nations have enjoyed since. While a recent poll reveals ageism is widespread in Australia, those experiencing it are unlikely to do anything about it Photo: Getty Images SAHAR MOURAD NEWS A newpoll has found that Australians over the age of 50 consider ageism to be a se- rious problem, particularly as they get older. The poll, conducted by RedBridge Group in association with Ageism Awareness Day on October 7, spoke to more than 1000 Aus- tralians, who were placed across 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s age groups. The research found that 68 per cent of peo- ple aged over 50 have experienced ageism and consider it a huge issue, with people in their 60s most likely to have experienced ageism in the past year. Of these, only one in five took any action in response, for reasons including ageism being hard to prove, or being unsure how to respond or what they could do about it. The poll also found those in their 80s were the least likely to complain about ageism, compared to those in their 50s, 60s and 70s. Dr Marlene Krasovitsky, the head of Every- AGE Counts, a campaign to end ageism in Australia, said it is evident that from the poll results, Australians are feeling “powerless” when it comes to ageing. “Ageism is pervasive, but often hidden. The only way we can end it is to bring it out of the shadows,” she said. “Often older Australians feel powerless when we encounter ageism. However, if we know what it looks like and name it, we can take constructive actions in response. In this way each of us can help build an Australia without ageism. Ageism, a widespread problem “People often don’t knowhow to approach difficult conversations about ageism, but we know there are approaches that work better than others. For example, it’s tempting to ar- gue that ‘one day you’ll be in my shoes,’ but the latest research shows people find it hard to conceptualise their future selves, and that it may actually be more persuasive to simply explain the impact the ageism had on you personally.” Ageism Awareness Day ambassador Mon- ica Trapaga suggested a way to tackle the negativity surrounding ageism is by spread- ing awareness. “So much ageism happens unconsciously, and it’s allowed to keep happening because we don’t feel sufficiently informed or em- powered to push back,” she said.