Attending coronation the ‘coolest thing I've ever done’

Sarah Menzies. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Sarah Menzies. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
A Riverton woman feels overwhelmingly honoured to be a part of history.

Army Lance-corporal Sarah Menzies was the only Southlander to be part of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) marching contingent which took part in thecoronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the weekend.

Speaking to the Otago Daily Times after the ceremony, Lcpl Menzies still could not believe she was among the 21-member contingent from New Zealand who marched along with about 6000 military from other Commonwealth countries during the ceremony in London.

"It was really surreal, to be honest.

"On the day, there was a lot of anticipation building up to it ... I'm not sure how I could describe it apart from it being surreal. All the cameras and everybody looking at you. It was quite emotional."

She hoped she had honoured not only the country, but also her region and small town.

The anxiety and responsibility were so big she could not sleep the night before the coronation, she said.

"I don't know who else from Southland has done something like this, so it was quite cool.

"Plus it's such a small community, so everybody was behind me. My Facebook page was just buzzing because of it and people stopped by my house to talk to my family."

While Lcpl Menzies took part in the ceremony on Saturday night [UK time], she got closer to the royals during the King's coronation concert the next day.

"They were like 100m away. So everybody was so excited ... I'm sure they would have noticed we were excited.

"Not only our contingency, but the whole crowd was going crazy for them, so we kind of just blended in."

Lcpl Menzies, who was previously a surfing instructor, had been in the army for four and a-half years.

She joined the NZDF because of the "lifestyle" — she wanted to do something within the health sector but did not want to go to university straight out of high school.

The trip to England was her first overseas deployment, she said.

"I have family across the world and they are extremely proud.

"My boyfriend is an intelligence officer — he's so jealous that I'm over here," she said with a laugh.

As it was her first time in England, Lcpl Menzies also had two days off for some sightseeing.

"I'm just planning to do classic tourist things like going up to the Tower of London and the London Eye.

I also want to look around at the cool shops, because you can’t get them in New Zealand."

While she was excited for that, she knew the best part of the trip was being part of such a historic moment.

At 23 years old, she knew it would be something she would always remember.

"This would definitely be the coolest thing I've ever done."

luisa.girao@odt.co.nz

 

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