Multicultural leader among select group invited to Queen’s funeral service
West End community leader and restaurateur Saba Abraham is among the 10 “everyday Australians” who will attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in London next week.
Abraham, who was instrumental in ensuring migrants and people from non-English speaking backgrounds were kept informed during the Covid-19 pandemic, was named Queensland’s Local Hero at this year’s Australian of the Year awards.
As well as promoting multiculturalism, Abraham’s work her not-for-profit restaurant and catering business, Mu’ooz, has provided more than 200 refugee women in Queensland with vocational training and job opportunities.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited “Mama Saba” as she is known, to travel with him to attend the funeral at Westminster Abbey next Monday.
“In addition to invitations extended to Australia’s Heads of State, the Palace has invited 10 Australians who have made extraordinary contributions to their communities, and who represent Australian culture and values,” the prime minister said in a statement.
“I am honoured to be accompanied by these Australians who will join me, on behalf of Australia, in paying our respects to Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II.
Each of these extraordinary citizens represents contemporary Australia, and quintessential Australian values such as respect, inclusion and helping others.”
The other invitees are:
Dylan Alcott AO – 2022 Australian of the Year
Valmai Dempsey – 2022 Senior Australian of the Year
Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM, 2021 Senior Australian of the Year
Shanna Whan – 2022 Australian of the Year Local Hero
Kim Smith APM – Local Hero 2022, Tasmania
Trudy Lin – Young Australian of the year 2022, South Australia
Danny Abdallah – Co-Creator of i4give Day and Foundation
Chris Waller – Inductee, Australian Racing Hall of Fame
Professor Helen Milroy – Western Australia Australian of the Year 2021
Meanwhile, controversial war hero Ben Roberts-Smith is also planning to attend the funeral ceremony in his role as one of Australia’s Victoria Cross recipients, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Roberts-Smith is awaiting the outcome of a defamation trial in which he sued the Nine group of newspapers over allegations he was a war criminal.
