Speeches
Friday, 07 February 2025
Matthew Flinders Exhibition Special Event
I am delighted to join you today at this special celebration of Matthew Flinders, the explorer, navigator scientist, cartographer, naval seaman and the university’s namesake.
My Honorary Aide-de-Camp Lieutenant Lauren Alschwager RAN is also pleased to be here.
The exhibition, while small, has deep significance for our understanding of the man whose influence continues to resonate in contemporary Australia.
People walk past his statue outside Government House and on the esplanade in Port Lincoln. They study at Flinders University, receive care at Flinders Medical Centre, travel along Flinders Street and the Flinders Highway or live in Flinders Park. Young people take part in Operation Flinders, hiking through the ancient land of the Flinders Ranges.
And there are many places that, while they do not bear his name, nonetheless connect us with Flinders: Port Lincoln, Encounter Bay, Fowlers Bay, the north coast of Kangaroo Island.
Last year, I flew to the UK in a mere 24 hours – Matthew Flinders’ journeys were much longer – to represent South Australia at the reinterment of Matthew Flinders remains in his birthplace, Donington in Lincolnshire England and brought back with me, carried by my Official Secretary, his coffin plate, a gift from his descendants to our State.
I think all who were there that day in Donington had a sense that a long journey was being completed.
The people of Donington came out in force to honour their famous son. The village was bedecked with bunting, people lined the streets, and you could even get a Flinders cocktail at the pub.
I am sure that fellow guests Chancellor Hood and the Major of Port Lincoln Diana Mislov were just as taken as I by the warmth, celebration and joy in the village that day and how welcome we were made to feel as South Australians.
Because later in life, sadly Matthew Flinders, didn’t receive the ceremony and accolades that hindsight might expect after such epic journeys of discovery including the first recorded circumnavigation of Australia.
He was held prisoner for six and a half years by the French in Mauritius on a journey home because the nations were at war, died a few years later at the age of 40, his grave, as time passed, becoming unknown.
The story of its rediscovery and his return to Donington, is a moving and almost incredible story.
Now, through this exhibition, we can celebrate and explore some personal aspects of his life which invite us to delve more deeply into story of the modest man whose great legacy endures.
We can see the uniform buttons he wore, his pocket compass, the loving letter to his wife Ann, a coral necklace given to his sister and a rare first edition of A Voyage to Terra Australis documenting his life’s work.
I am delighted that the exhibition also honours Bungaree: an Aboriginal man from Gadigal country who was Flinders’ trusted guide, friend and intermediary, and instrumental to the success of his expeditions.
The illustration on the side window reminds us that Matthew Flinders journey was a part of the continuum of our past, present and future.
The beautiful etching of feather quills entitled Yara by Waanyi artist Judy Watson honours aboriginal Tjilbruke creation stories, overlaid with Flinders maps. It is a poignant reminder that ancient histories, colonial history and diverse cultures are intertwined.
I congratulate Flinders University on staging this exhibition – and during the first anniversary this week of the establishment of the city campus.
There are many thankyous:
The ArtLab team, particularly Sophie Parker and Jo Dawe, for its expert restoration work on the coffin plate and conservation work on the compass and buttons.
The representatives of the Flinders Family here today. Fiona Salmon as a descendant through Matthew’s sister Susanna, and other family who share this connection, Jayne Salmon, Carol Seymour, David and Claire Keith.
As representatives of the family of the late Alan Flinders Pilgrim, David and Claire, along with their father Ian, generously donated significant family heirlooms to the Flinders University Special Collections.
The History Trust of South Australia for becoming the custodians of the precious coffin plate, and for, in the future, sharing it with the public at the Maritime Museum.
I send thanks also across the world to Rachel Flinders Lewis, Dr Martha Flinders Lewis and Susie Flinders Beatty, direct descendants of Matthew Flinders, whom I met in Donington, for their generous gift of the coffin plate to South Australia.
I trust that by enabling people to become close to the artefacts that were close to the man, we can delve deeper into his story.
In this way we can become inspired to explore and discover much more of our own world.