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NLA News - homeMarch 2003 Volume XIII Number 6
Friends in March
A pen and ink drawing of Matthew Flinders, Capt. R.N. 1809, author of ‘Trim’ holding a sword by George Gordon McCrae

George Gordon McCrae (1833–1927)
Matthew Flinders, Capt. R.N. 1809, author of ‘Trim’
drawing; pen and ink; 15.8 x 10.9 cm
Pictures Collection,
nla.pic-an6325371

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.


CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 2003

AN EVENING WITH
MATTHEW FLINDERS
A presentation by Paul Brunton, Curator of Manuscripts at the State Library of New South Wales and editor of Matthew Flinders’ letters.
Date: Thursday, 27 March
Time: 6.00 pm
Venue: Conference Room, 4th Floor.
Admission:  $12 Friends; others $15, (includes refreshments)
Bookings essential:  (02) 6262 1698; email friends@nla.gov.au
Conference Room

ECUMENICAL DESIGN?
National Library Exhibitions Curator, Tim Fisher will speak about the work of early Victorian designer and architect Augustus Pugin—the subject of the travelling exhibition currently on display at the Library.
Date: Tuesday, 15 April
Time: 12.30 pm
Venue: Friends Lounge and Exhibition Gallery
Admission: Gold coin donation

For bookings, details of membership and subscriptions, contact:
Friends of the NLA
National Library of Australia
Parkes Place
CANBERRA  ACT  2600
Tel: (02) 6262 1698
Fax: (02) 6273 4493
Email: friends@nla.gov.au
Web site: www.nla.gov.au/friends

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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.

§§§


On Thursday 27 March, at 6:00 pm, Friends are invited to come and spend ‘An Evening with Matthew Flinders’ at the National Library. Paul Brunton, Curator of Manuscripts at the State Library of New South Wales and editor of Flinders’ letters, will give an illustrated presentation on the life and work of Matthew Flinders, an English navigator and the first man to sail a ship around Australia. He is also the person credited with giving Australia its name.

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
Executive Officer

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