King Charles and Queen Camilla were invited to help with a traditional Australian barbecue and were encouraged to use tongs “Australian style”.
Scott McCoy, 42, manager of Black Bear BBQ restaurant in Sydney and better known by the nickname ‘Chop’, McCoy said it was ‘an honour’ to have some real helpers.
Chop said, “I’m still shaking.” It was great.’
The King and Queen declined the opportunity to try any of the sausages, which included lamb, beef, pork and vegetarian variations.
Chop said the Queen was instructed to use the tongs “Australian style” to turn the “sausages” by clicking twice before using them.
Chop said that the King and Queen thought the sausages were “amazing” and that they “could tell they were great without trying them.”
Murray Wilkinson from Mudgee had brought a handful of his 16,000 Merino sheep to demonstrate to the King and Queen the art of working with sheepdogs. Joining him were five-year-old Colt, an Australian Kelpie, and six-year-old Meg, a Border Collie from the United Kingdom.
Mr Wilkinson, who also has 3,000 head of cattle, said: “I’m going to show them how we work with the dogs and then I’ll have them jump on the backs of the sheep.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla were invited to help with a traditional Australian barbecue and were encouraged to use tongs “Australian style”.
The King and Queen turned down the opportunity to try any of the sausages, which included lamb, beef, pork and vegetarian variations.
‘It took me about three weeks to train Meg and about a year to train Colt. Girls tend to learn it faster.
‘It is a great honor to have been asked. I did my apprenticeship for 14 years with the Packers and I know there is some crossover there.
‘It has been a difficult time for the industry. International prices have been falling.
“Things are getting better, but it’s been tough, so it’s good to showcase our industry.”
The King and Queen watched as Colt was put through his paces, but unfortunately the sheep became confused with the large group of photographers and videographers in the pen and it took several attempts to get them inside.
‘Too many people!’ Charles gestured and laughed. He smiled at Meg, who was sitting waiting on a barrel, desperate to join.
Colt finally made it, barking angrily at the cattle and running on their backs.
The King and Queen enjoyed a sheepdog exhibition.
The demonstration did not go as planned because the media distracted the sheep.
Mr Wilkinson said afterwards: “It was a bit frustrating that the media was moving around and confusing the sheep.” He could have done it very quickly but it took him several tries. However, the king still said he was impressed and talked about how wonderful it was. He was talking about the good looks of the sheep and the price of wool.
The barbecue came after the Queen met passionate young readers and leading authors today while visiting Green Square Library in Sydney.
Camilla, a long-time literacy and reading advocate, attended the event to celebrate and promote the role of writing and literacy among young Australians.
He met with previous entrants to the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition and Australian authors to highlight the importance of reading across the Commonwealth in the award-winning underground library beneath Green Square Plaza, which opened in 2018.
Camilla was joined by NSW Deputy Premier Prudence Car and met with representatives from the NSW Government Department of Education, the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group.
The Queen went to Sydney’s Green Square Library to meet Australian creative writing students and renowned authors
The Queen listened to a student read her story and encouraged ‘budding writers’ to continue finding inspiration (pictured the Queen with NSW Deputy Premier Prudence Car).
He joined students from across Sydney to take part in a series of writing workshops, before presenting certificates to past entrants to the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, an annual competition organized by the Royal Commonwealth Society.
Meeting author Kylie Captain at a table of schoolchildren, Captain told her: “I write about Aboriginal culture and what it means to me.”
Camilla responded: “That’s wonderful, you’re inspiring people.”
Addressing the children, he said: ‘Would any of you like to read something to me? I’d love to hear your story.’
One student, Maya, age 10, read her story called The Lonely Sea.
Next, Camilla joined children from South Sydney High School who were doing a workshop with author Will Kostakis.
He told Camilla: ‘I write coming-of-age stories. “I have asked them to reflect on the communities of which they are a part.”
Camilla told the table of young aspiring writers: ‘There’s a lot of talent there. I can see a lot of budding writers. “It’s very important that you have the right teacher and inspiration.”
Queen Camilla met Australian authors and chatted with Thomas Keneally (pictured), whose book was adapted into the film Schindler’s List.
The Queen posed with students, authors and book club members after presenting certificates to past entrants to the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, an annual competition organized by the Royal Commonwealth Society.
After presenting their certificates to four young medal winners from the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, Camilla greeted her friend and former private secretary, Amanda McManus, who has been in Sydney for the royal trip and still works with the Queen at your reading room.
McManus introduced Camilla to members of local Sydney book clubs and several prominent Australian authors, including Thomas Keneally, who wrote Schindler’s Ark, which was adapted to become the film Schindler’s List, and Liane Moriarty, author from Big Little Lies.
Camilla also met Matt Cosgrove, author of Macca the Alpaca, and told him: “We had an alpaca yesterday which I sadly missed.”
At the end of the engagement, Camilla posed on the library steps for a group photo with schoolchildren, authors and book club members before waving to the crowd that had gathered outside as she left.
