Circumnavigation of Australia to mark 250th anniversary of Captain Cook’s arrival suspended
An epic voyage around Australia to commemorate 250 years since Captain Cook arrived Down Under — and address long-standing controversy around the topic — has fallen victim to COVID-19.
National
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An epic circumnavigation of Australia to mark the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook’s arrival Down Under has been beached by coronavirus.
The voyage by the replica of Cook’s sailing ship Endeavour was to set off from Sydney in late April and travel anticlockwise around the country for more than a year, stopping at dozens of coastal towns along the way.
It was suspended today (Friday) by the Australian National Maritime Museum, which was running the event, called Encounters 2020.
A companion touring exhibition called “Looking Back, Looking Forward” is also on hold.
The Sydney-based museum said it acted to ensure the health and safety of the public and voyage crew given the current COVID 19 pandemic.
“This decision was not taken lightly. After 4 years of planning, this is disappointing but it is necessary at this time. I trust the public will understand and hope they engage with our digital resources instead” Museum Director, Kevin Sumption said.
Organisers had hoped to spark reflection on and conversation about Australia’s past and future, especially around the topic of reconciliation, with the two-pronged commemoration.
Cook’s arrival is often discussed in a controversial light, seen by some as the catalyst for centuries of suffering by indigenous people; and the Encounters 2020 program was intended to address this in a balanced fashion.
The museum said it is currently considering options for other ways to mark the anniversary, including through its online program.
It is liaising with the communities the ship was due to visit and will refund people who had purchased tickets to help crew the Endeavour on legs of the voyage, alongside its professional sailors.