This is a very important matter and I ask people to listen to this. There is a bit of a history lesson in this as well.

At 8 p.m. on Monday 2 November 1998, the replica sloop Norfolk arrived at the mouth of the River Tamar, after a lengthy and arduous 12 days sailing from Sydney's Darling Harbour, and sailed into Low Head. This event occurred 200 years to the day after the historic voyage by Bass and Flinders in 1798. On Tuesday 1 November 1798, Matthew Flinders wrote a detailed account of his entry into the Tamar River, describing their search for shelter in the ship's log by saying in part the entrance appeared to lead into a large basin or bay. This basin or bay was later named Port Dalrymple by Governor John Hunter in honour of Alexander Dalrymple.

After Flinders had charted the Tamar estuary and Port Dalrymple and Bass had explored the land of the area, the Norfolk set sail on 20 November to circumnavigate Van Diemen's Land as per their mission. They sailed west from Port Dalrymple along the then uncharted coast. On 9 December, Bass climbed to the peak of Albatross Island and reported that there was no land to the west or south. This was indeed the western extremity of Van Diemen's Land. They charted a course to the south and headed round the North West Cape and down the west coast in four days. They sailed along the south coast and on 3 January 1799 sailed into Port Jackson, thus proving that Van Diemen's Land was in fact an island.

At Flinders' insistence, Governor Hunter named the strait after Bass. Bern Cuthbertson was re-enacting history when he and his crew of eight sailed their replica Norfolk through the mouth of the Tamar. They too were welcomed with open arms by the people of Low Head and especially, noisily, by the residents of George Town. And we know, or should know, that George Town is the oldest town in Australia. Flinders stayed for 17 days in the area while Cuthbertson stayed 16 and on 2 December 1998 the replica Norfolk easily sailed down the Tamar and into the open sea. The challenges for both of the Norfolk s were similar yet different. The sea was no kinder to Cuthbertson than to Flinders. The difference was that the replica had a schedule of publicity rendezvous to maintain along the north coast and down the west. The stories from hereon in are too plentiful to recount but it is safe to say that at each port of call around Tasmania the replica sloop and her crew were welcomed with open arms.

The bond that Bern Cuthbertson and the Norfolk forged with the people of George Town is evidenced by the rapturous welcome that the Norfolk received as she was towed from the tin shed that she had been living in for the past four years. The whole population of South George Town Primary School lined the route for the movement of this vessel. More than 250 townsfolk were patiently waiting outside the Gaiety Theatre in the heat of the sun for the cavalcade to arrive.

Both Bass and Flinders would have smiled when the cheers at the arrival went up. A deep, roaring cheer went up from the crowd as the Norfolk was lifted high and slowly manoeuvred above the hole that had been prepared in the roof of the Gaiety Theatre. But we know that the first attempt was aborted because of crane problems. Additional people joined the crowd and stood in silence as more of the roof was removed to reduce the crane reach. After an hour or so the Norfolk started her lift again and this time it all went well.

Very slowly and still in total silence the Norfolk was coming home. As her keel gently kissed the floor of the theatre there was uncontrolled elation. There were loud cheers and tears glistened on the cheeks of those who had fought for her to rest where she lay. She stood as erect as the lady she is. People loudly sang out their praises, the crane crew quickly made her safe and the crane withdrew. All present looked at her in awe. At last she had a home and she was now safe. After the crane and the transporter had gone and the crowd had moved away the Norfolk team - and I want to identify these people - of Hale, Mackrill, Neilson, Gunn and Cory, and I think most of those people would be known by the northern members here, were left to ponder the magnitude of the task that they had achieved and that which now lay ahead.

The generosity of the Tasmanian Government - and we sing the praises of the Tasmanian Government here - enabled them to find a permanent home for the Norfolk. The Federal Government had also promised them significant funds to go towards the restoration of the Gaiety Theatre. Slowly the Gaiety will be converted into an old ship chandlery that will be known as the Flinders Centre. The not-insignificant promises of the George Town Council will assist in ageing Elizabeth Street, and support in money and in kind from the local populace will add significantly towards its success.

The Norfolk team are to be congratulated for their tenacity in getting to where they now are. I am sure that there will be many hours of hard work ahead of them but I am confident that the voices of Bass and Flinders will soon echo through what will become a significant attraction in northern Tasmania.

I was there the night the opening was celebrated. It was a tremendous night; the place was packed. This is a significant boon for the town of George Town. It will be a tremendous event for Tasmania and I ask every person to visit that centre.

Mr Aird - It was actually built in my electorate. Did you know that?

Mr DEAN - Was it?

Mr PRESIDENT - The honourable member for Windermere's speech reminds me that Sir Guy Green described their discovery in terms that they were indeed the first people to discover that the landmass to our north is an island separate from Tasmania.