65WATSON: BRETT COSTELLO / NEWSPIX; BANKS AND COOK: NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY; FLINDERS: ART GALLERY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA; MARTIN: COURTESY JESSE MARTIN
JOSEPH BANKS (1743–1820)
In 1768 naturalist Joseph Banks joined Cook’s
expedition to observe the transit of Venus. He
gathered not just plants in Australia, but birds,
reptiles, fish, molluscs and insects. He also took
notes on Aboriginal customs. Back in England,
he catalogued his vast set of specimens, notes
and drawings, many of which remain in
London’s Natural History Museum (AG 90).MATTHEW FLINDERS
(1774–1814)
Flinders charted much of
Australia’s coastline despite
many trials. An outstanding
sailor, surveyor, navigator and
scientist, he was a consider-
ate leader who looked after
all under his command.JAMES COOK (1728–1779)
Cook was a great navigator,
explorer and cartographer.
In 1768 he led an expedition
on the Endeavour (AG 44) to
the ‘South Seas’. In the
process he charted the
east coast of Australia and
claimed it for England.JESSE MARTIN (1981–)
When Jesse Martin sailed from
Melbourne in December 1998, he
hoped to become the youngest person
to circumnavigate the globe solo, non-
stop and unassisted (AG 96). Over 11
months aboard his yacht Lionheart, the
18-year-old completed a 50,000km rite
of passage, earning a world record.WHEN 16-YEAR-OLD Jessica Watson
sailed into Sydney Harbour on 15 May
2010 – becoming the youngest person
to sail solo and unassisted around the
world – she inspired a nation. Whether
it was her youth, or that many had
doubted her ability to succeed, more
than 75,000 people, including the
prime minister, and a vast fl otilla, turned
out to welcome her home. Her
departure in 2009 had generated much
controversy. Perhaps it was because
someone so young was setting off alone
on what many considered to be the
Everest of sailing. Watson sailed out of
Sydney on 18 October 2009, five
months after her 16th birthday. Over
the next 210 days, her boat rolled four
times in an Atlantic storm, while the
Pacifi c off ered her glorious days surfi ng
waves and enjoying the fl ight of alba-
tross. Homework, maintenance and
blogging fi lled her spare time. In 2010
Jessica became the AGS Young Adven-
turer of the Year, and in 2012 was
awarded the Medal of the Order of
Australia for services to sailing.Jessica Watson
(1993–)
“You are only as big as the dreams you dare to live.” JESSICA WATSON
November–December 2015 65