EMBARGOED UN4TIL DELIVERY CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
RECEPTION rOR CAPTAINS or TALL SHIPS
SYDNEY -21 JANuARY 1988
I am delighted to meet the Captains and crew of the Tall
Ships representing foreign governments, and the Ambassadors
and High Commissioners to Australia of those governments,
and to have this opportunity of expressing my appreciation
and that of the Australian government and people for your
participation in our Bicentennial celebrations.
When the Bicentennial Authority proposed to the Govern ment
the idea of a Tall Ships event to commemorate and honouxr
Australia's maritime heritage'and our continuing dependence
on the sea, we knew that the success of the event would
depend ultimately upon the-willingness of other governments
to send their sal 1-training vessel1s to join in our
celebrations, to give the event international standing, and
to add those elements of drama and spectacle which only the
large sailing ships can bring.
But the event Tall Ships Australia 1988 brilliant
spectacle though it is has a deeper significance related
to Australia's identity as a modern nation, its place in the
contemporary world and its hopes for the future.
First, the event symbolizes Australia's diversity as a
nation built on migration. We celebrate that diversity.
Since the early 19th century Australia has attracted people
from other lands in search of a new way of life, new freedom
and new opportunities.
And for most of the first century, they all came by sail.
Secondly, the event symbolises Australia's wish to reach out
in friendship to all nations.
The readiness of your governments to send you on a long and
hazardous journey around the world to reach us is testimony
to the international friendships we prize-so highly. 004009
It is quite remarkable to reflect that Tall Ships Australia
1988 has a greater number of international participants than
Op sail ' 76 orl& nised as part of the Bicentennial
celebrations of the United States of America.
But, perhaps most important of all, is the fact that the
Tall Ships event brings together the young people of so many
nations in a spirit of goodwill, friendship, co-operation
and adventure.
These are qualities we Australians value.
They give us hope for a brighter future for the youth of the
vo d.
So I am especially pleased to welcome the 17 represeptatives
of the trainee crews here today.
You and the hundreds of other young seafarers have now faced
the age old challenge of the sea which demands
self-discipline, team work, self-reliance and endurance.
Your voyage to Australia has been a tough test. You have
responded to the challenge in a way which does credit to you
and your generation.
We salute you as Ambassadors of goodwill.
Tall Ships Australia ' 88 has also provided us with a
reminder of the perils faced by those who go down to the sea
in ships.
India's ship Varuna was, as you know, damaged in the G~ reat
Australian bijE7
While we lament her misfortune, we salute the courage and
tenacity which has brought her to Sydney to take pTart in the
Srand finale of the Event, the Grand Parade of Sail on
I am personally delighted that Varuna will be flying Indiarg
flag on that day which is the niE-t-1onl day for two nations.-
india and Australia.
I wish you all a safe passage home and hope that the memory
of the event will live in your hearts as it assuredly will
in ours.
In this spirit we salute you and I ask you to convoy our
thanks to your Governments, and to your ships' companies.
Yours is a magnificent contribution to our Bicentenary, one
that people of Australia will long remem~ ber. 004010
it gives me much pleasure now to present to the Captain of
each of the seventeen ships a memento of yorprf ia o
in Tall ships Australia ' 88 and with it te thanks of the
Australian people. 004011