Student Activities - Bentinck Island

Members of the Flinders 2002 Queensland Committee and RGSQ visited school children on Bentinck Island to commemorate Flinders' visit there in 1802. A specially prepared booklet was presented to each student. These booklets told the story of Matthew Flinders' visit to the Gulf of Carpentaria and were illustrated by relevant paintings by Ferdinand Bauer and William Westall.

The students had prepared drawings of plants they used for food. We talked about Flinders' need to find food and water as he travelled.

During the visit some of the students went with the visitors to look at plants recorded by Robert Brown during the Investigator's visit on 18 November 1802.

One plant well known to the students and easily located was the Eucalypt (Eucalyptus pruinosa) painted by Bauer from material collected on Bentinck and Sweers Islands.

Last updated 13 October 2006. For more information email admin@rgsq.org.au  Return to home