Danny Abdallah admits attending Queen’s funeral ‘took him back’
The Sydney father who lost three of his children to a drunk driver has shared the raw emotion of attending the Queen’s funeral with other everyday Aussies.
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Danny Abdallah, who along with his wife tragically lost three of his four children and a niece when a drunk driver hit them, has spoken of the emotion of attending Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
Mr Abdallah was one of the ordinary Australians invited to attend the VIP event.
“It was a beautiful experience and an honour to be a part of history,” he said.
“I felt for the family and the grief and pain they will be experiencing.
“I felt a little sad as it took me back to my kids’ funeral, but I truly believe there is life after life.”
Rural women’s ambassador Shanna Whan, who was named 2022 Australian Local Hero of the Year for her work in alcohol awareness, described the experience as “surreal”.
“It was simply surreal to watch the entire royal family – and foreign ministers and leaders walking past …. to see the faces and people of those I’ve watched for a lifetime, pass by our noses.
“To observe their humanity and grief and their realness was profound,” she said clearly moved by the service.
“I knew that the service would be sombre, but I wasn’t prepared for the sheer tsunami of emotions I went through.
“From the moment I could hear the bagpipes to Her Majesty’s casket being walked past us, to the hymns – I had tears streaming down my face.
“The gravity was enormous. For me, to hear the choir and music first-hand was also something I’ll remember as long as I live.”
“The reality of knowing you’re just a girl from the bush in Australia and about to be potentially viewed by four million people is somewhat overwhelming … for sure,” Whan, from rural New South Wales, dressed in a Carla Zampatti gown, said.
“I’m so thankful that I have a perfect dress and hat,” Ms Whan said.
“My absolute priority other than showing my respects to Her Majesty is in representing the rural space and those my charity Sober fights so hard for.”
Queensland hero and community leader Saba Abraham, who was also there, said: “It was simply moving, I’m lost for words.”
Ms Abraham said: “I feel grateful and honoured but at the same time very sad.”
AUSSIE VC HEROES INVITED TO FUNERAL
It’s an extraordinary picture – a lineup of heroes from around the world brought together by the Queen in her final act.
As recipients of the Victoria Cross and the George Cross – the two highest awards in the British honours system – they had all been invited to Her Majesty’s funeral.
Among them were Aussies Keith Payne, Daniel Keighran, Mark Donaldson, Michael Pratt and Ben Roberts-Smith.
Mr Payne, who received the VC medal for valour in Vietnam, had a decades-long association with the Queen and became, in the Queen’s own words, “old friends”.
Fellow Afghanistan war veterans Mr Keighran, Mr Donaldson and Mr Roberts-Smith were each awarded the VC, while Mr Pratt, a police officer from Victoria received the GC for intervening in a bank robbery.
Mr Payne proudly published photos of the catch up on the eve of the funeral on his Facebook page saying “all the VC and GCs from around the world are doing us proud in London”.
“Thank you your Majesty for your long and selfless service,” he wrote.
Before he left Australia, Mr Payne paid tribute to the monarch, saying, “She proved to be not only a Queen, but a royal above royals”.
The nine community heroes invited to represent Australia at the Queen’s funeral described feeling a “flood of emotions” before the historic event, while other everyday Aussies among the crowd revealed the extraordinary lengths they went to in order to be there.
The nine community heroes entered Westminster Abbey from one of the side entrances more than two hours before the funeral began, led by Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott.
Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, who travelled to the UK on his own, was already seated among the 2000-strong congregation when they arrived.
Walking into the abbey together were Australia’s other VC recipients Keith Payne and Mark Donaldson, seen with other VC winners from around the Commonwealth.
Members of the group who travelled with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described their feelings of privilege and trepidation ahead of the sombre event.
Tasmanian former police officer Kim Smith said: “I feel a mixture of apprehension and excitement and sadness. It’s a flood of emotions. I’m thinking of my own parents today.”
As recipients of the Victoria Cross and the George Cross – the two highest awards in the British honours system – they had all been invited to Her Majesty’s funeral.
Among them were Aussies Keith Payne, Daniel Keighran, Mark Donaldson, Michael Pratt and Ben Roberts-Smith.
Mr Payne, who received the VC medal for valour in Vietnam, had a decades-long association with the Queen and became, in the Queen’s own words, “old friends”.
Fellow Afghanistan war veterans Mr Keighran, Mr Donaldson and Mr Roberts-Smith were each awarded the VC, while Mr Pratt, a police officer from Victoria received the GC for intervening in a bank robbery.
Mr Payne proudly published photos of the catch up on the eve of the funeral on his Facebook page saying “all the VC and GCs from around the world are doing us proud in London”.
“Thank you your Majesty for your long and selfless service,” he wrote.
Before he left Australia, Mr Payne paid tribute to the monarch, saying, “She proved to be not only a Queen, but a royal above royals”.
THOUSANDS OF AUSSIE MOURNERS OUTSIDE FUNERAL
Outside, Australians numbered among the thousands of mourners lining the streets of the capital, including four mates from Victoria.
Queensland mother Sarah Lin said she paid $6000 for an airfare to Dublin, and another $600 for a connecting flight to the UK.
“How could I stay in Australia when the Queen has died?” she said. “I’m British born and have lived in Australia for eight years. I just had to pay my respects to see the Queen lying in state; it’s making history.
“After queuing for 12 hours to see her, I went straight to The Mall to get a spot to see her one more time in the procession,” she said.
“I’m sleep-deprived but my friends on WhatsApp have been camping for four days, and have found the best spot.
“I’m doing it because I feel so sad I’ll never see her again.
“I lost my gran to Covid in January and this brings it all back.
“I’ll fly to Queensland on Tuesday and go straight in to work. It sounds mad, but I had FOMO [Fear Of Missing Out] watching it all on telly that I just had to come.”
Stef Edwards, 26, from Melbourne camped for ten hours to see the queen lying in state on the eve of the funeral. “The Queen’s passing makes everyone think of someone they have lost. It’s shared grief.
“My mum would have wanted me to do it for my grandma, but I wanted to come,” she said.
Originally published as Danny Abdallah admits attending Queen’s funeral ‘took him back’
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