On behalf of the Friends Committee, I would like to express our sympathies to all those Canberra residents who suffered so much in the January bushfires, and to thank all members of the Friends who were so charitable in the aftermath. I hope that the recovery process is well under way for all concerned.
§§§ Another thank you must go to our members who bravely came and enjoyed a wonderful occasion in late January for our New Members Evening. That particular day was amazingly hot and windy, with such extreme fire danger that it was expected that many would be unable to attend. However, 70 did venture out, and they enjoyed a superb reception, with the gourmet nibbles and the ice-cold Semillon–Sauvignon Blanc proving most popular. The airconditioning in the foyer combined with Adam Laslett’s tasteful piano-playing ensured that everyone left feeling much refreshed, and ready to face the heat and haze of the outside world. §§§
In addition to editing Matthew Flinders: Personal Letters from an Extraordinary Life, Paul Brunton has curated the Flinders exhibition, currently travelling Australia. Brunton went on an international quest to borrow rare items for this exhibition to celebrate the bicentenary of Flinders’ epic circumnavigation. He secured exhibits from Mauritius, Britain and France, to complement the State Library of New South Wales’ considerable collection. So this is a rare opportunity for Friends and other interested parties to come and hear one of the world’s foremost Flinders experts speak on this topic. JAMES HALLIGAN |
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