What I See with Peter Fiorenza: Queen Elizabeth II, doing the right thing for 70 years with world watching

I often write about inspirational people and role models.

There is nothing more inspirational than when a human being does the “right thing”. But what is the right thing?

For me, it’s when you act in a way that demonstrates a combination of humbleness, integrity, duty and love — a case of not necessarily doing something right, but the actual way it is done.

And this is encapsulated in certain human beings, yet there are only a select few that can pull all of this together.

When they do, though, these people stand out from the crowd while, ironically, wanting to be, somewhat, understated.

Often people obtain notoriety from merely the position they hold, but, perhaps more often are remembered by the way they get things done.

A country’s leader is firstly identified by their position of Prime Minister, President, King or Queen. The circumstances that these people find themselves in usually defines them.

For instance, JFK is remembered for the Cuban Missile Crisis and the way he stood up to Khrushchev, Winston Churchill for his brave speeches during the Battle of Britain or Kevin Rudd with his “Sorry” speech in the Australian Parliament.

All of those mentioned were doing significant jobs, but it was what they did and how they did aspects of the job that establishes personas that make them stand out.

There is one person, however, who I believe has been able to consistently hold such a status without peer.

In fact, she has done this for an incredible 70 years and that is the Queen.

For seven decades, Elizabeth Windsor has continually held her head well above water by simply always doing the right thing.

Yes, despite the ups and downs of the rest of the royal family over that time, she has personally maintained the same steady course.

There is no doubt, history will judge her well, and this is mainly due to not only her remarkable sense of duty, but how she displayed such duty.

I have made reference before to one of my role models, former Mayor Ian Carpenter who once said to me: “Peter, a good bloke is someone who does the right thing, even when nobody is looking.”

The Queen has met and played host to hundreds upon hundreds of dignitaries, not to mention the thousands of men, women and children, during a time that has seen the world evolve from a global war to a man walking on the moon, to several lifetimes of technological change.

And through it all, she has remained a constant reassurance.

Sadly, in recent times, it has become all too clear that we will lose one of the greatest role models of all time.

Someone that has always done the right thing with absolutely everybody watching.

Peter Fiorenza hosts Fiorenza on Sunday between 10am and noon on Radio MAMA