Shanna Whan among Australia’s representatives at Queen’s funeral

Shanna Whan, of Maules Creek, represented Australia at Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, London, on Monday.

Shanna, the Australian Local Hero of the Year for 2022, met and spoke with the Queen for her jubilee celebrations earlier this year via Zoom at Government House, something Shanna will forever treasure.

She founded her grassroots not-for-profit Sober in the Country in 2019 after years of volunteer work – and was an Australian of the Year recipient in January in recognition of her advocacy, education, and awareness around the disproportionate level of alcohol harm (and corresponding lack of adequate or accessible support) in rural and remote areas.

Shanna was among more than 2000 invited guests who filled Westminster Abbey for the funeral service.

Guests included other monarchs and representatives of royal families, foreign heads of state, prime ministers, presidents, representatives of charities, distinguished honours recipients from around the Commonwealth, as well as the armed forces.