It was late October 2011, and the couple’s home and business in Rochester had both been flooded earlier that year in a flood that affected 80 per cent of the town’s homes.
Mrs Roberts, who moved to Shepparton earlier this year, does not know how she and her husband were chosen from among other people in the town for the honour, but she was pleased about the fact.
“We were chosen because we were flood victims,” she said.
“It (the invitation) just turned up in the mail.
“I was quite chuffed.”
Mrs Roberts remembers the day being quite orchestrated, right down to where everyone stood to meet The Queen.
Mrs Roberts got to within about one metre of her, and was only three people away, when the Queen’s minders turned her around and headed her in a different direction.
“She was talking to the people in front of me,” she said.
Mrs Roberts put it down to the fact that The Queen was about an hour late to the function after a busy morning.
While sad not to actually get the chance to speak to The Queen like many of the group of others from Rochester and surrounding district who travelled to Government House in Melbourne for the day, she was pleased to have the chance to see her.
“She was tiny,” Mrs Roberts said.
“She reminded me of my mother — she was about the same height and of the same era.”
Some of those invited that day were also given the chance to dine with The Queen for lunch.
Hearing the news of The Queen’s death on Friday, Mrs Roberts said she was pleased she had had the opportunity to get so close to the Queen.
“It was something unexpected and I never thought it would happen,” she said.
“I’m glad we went and got that close.”
Sadly, the attendees that day were not allowed to take any photos at the reception, but Mrs Roberts still has the invitation to the day.
“I framed the invite,” she said.
When Mrs Roberts lived in Rochester, the invitation used to have pride of place on show in a cabinet.
However, the move to Shepparton saw her downsize in home size and the certificate is no longer on display.
She still has it though as a memory of the day she was invited to meet the Queen.
Mrs Roberts thinks The Queen has done a great job over her long reign.
“She had great integrity,” she said.
“She carried her life out very graciously, yet she was clued in with what was going on.
“You won’t get another one like her.
“She was an amazing woman.”
