ONE very special lady has arrived at Sydney’s Garden Island this Valentine’s Day, QM2. Delighting cruisers on this day of love, QM2 even played host to a wedding proposal by sporting a large banner reading “Marry Me Jess” (she said yes!) .
Meanwhile, her visit will also see the historic return of Captain Matthew Flinders’ journal of his epic circumnavigation of Australia, to sea. Flinders, who gave Australia its name, was born in 1774, and is credited as being one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. Together with Captain William Bligh, he circumnavigated Australia between 1801-03 on the HMS Investigator, making daily entries in his diary of his adventures and discoveries. More than 200 years later, the journal is part of a display of key items from the State Library of NSW’s priceless Flinders Collection, which are accompanying QM2 on her first voyage around the country. The historic QM2 Flinders display also features an original copy of Flinders’ map of Australia, first published in 1814.
