Trim’s new minder just purrrfect

Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir provides a safe haven for Trim. Photos by ABPH Cristine Mercer and ABPH Yuri Ramsey

When Matthew Flinders charted the Australian coastline, the intrepid navigator took along a pet, his black and white cat named Trim.

Seventeen months ago the present Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir farewelled Captain Sarah Parry from Sydney Harbour as she set out to replicate the Flinder’s voyage in the square rigger Windeward Bound.

Captain Parry took a black and white cat with her named Trim, who, on the way, used up five of her nine lives.

“She fell overboard four times,” Captain Parry told the crowd who welcomed the Brigantine back to Sydney.

“On another occasion when we were in Weipa Harbour she spotted a large school of fish on the surface and dived in to get one. For a time we could not find her and we knew that as well as fish there were crocodiles in the harbour.

“Eventually we found her ambling down the deck. She had swum to the bowsprit and climbed back on board.

Trim, however, has yet to become used to crowds and microphones.

As Captain Parry used a microphone to speak of her ship’s voyage, the moggy became agitated and made it clear she wanted out of her arms. To the rescue came the NSW Governor.

Professor Bashir left her seat, took the cat and was soon calming Trim with some loving strokes.

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