Buy Matthew Flinders for Christmas - and help Alzeimers research

5:48 AM Sat 28 Nov 2009 GMT

''If Matthew Flinders had Wings'' .

With Christmas approaching the quest for the present for the 'sailor who already has everything' can be a daunting task.

The book 'If Matthew Flinders had wings' is a fresh idea, the money for which will also go to an excellent cause.

Melbourne property developer and philanthropist, Richard Buxton, whose mother suffered from dementia, flew the entire coastline of Australia over 56 days in a single engine Cessna. Four years later he sailed a 12-metre Cavalier yacht around Australia, a journey which took over 30 months. His diary records the majesty of some of the most remote parts of Australia.

The resulting book, "If Matthew Flinders had Wings", traces the two circumnavigations of Australia. Lavishly illustrated throughout, the 280-page, 550-photograph book is a tribute to Matthew Flinders and a celebration of adventure, travel and the Australian coast.

The book was released in August last year and has already raised over $200,000 for Alzheimer's Australia. Buxton hopes his book will raise $500,000 for dementia research by Christmas.

A circumnavigation of Australia - and for a good cause - .. .

The publication honours the defining journeys made by Matthew Flinders just over 200 years ago. It is interspersed with excerpts from Flinders' own writings made along the same route. Flinders was the first person to map Australia's entire coastline (1801-1803) and is credited with naming the continent.

Buxton established the Epsilon Research Fund to raise money for research into Alzheimer's and mental health. Most of our current knowledge about dementia has been discovered by researchers in the last 15 to 20 years.

Throughout this journey he wrote the story detailing the voyage, and took many photographs to accompany this story. A combination of stunning photography of Australia's rugged coastlines and culturally diverse residents, coupled with commentary on each chapter of the experience; the book 'If Matthew Flinders Had Wings' is an extraordinary account of Australian history and natural landscape. It is as much an educational reference as it is a story of modern day adventuring which has appeal for all ages - and it should make a great Christmas present for someone with adventure in their soul!

The book is published by Hardie Grant, retails for $69.95 and can be purchased online at www.epsilonresearch.com.au or by calling Alex Attfield on (03) 9644 7000. When purchased online or direct, all proceeds go to Alzeimers research.

by Andrew Freeman/Sail-World Cruising