Acclaimed Australian Author Anna Funder Unveils “A Letter from Australia to the World” on Queen Mary 2

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 04: An aerial view of Queen Mary 2 after she berthed at the Overseas Passenger Terminal beside the Sydney Opera House on March 04, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. Acclaimed Australian author Anna Funder today unveiled a "Letter from Australia" to the world aboard Cunard's flagship, Queen Mary 2, the world's only ocean liner, as the iconic vessel arrived in Sydney Harbour during her 108-night World Voyage. Revealed on deck against the striking backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, the larger-than-life letter offered a powerful meditation on modern Australian identity and the enduring value of slowing down in an increasingly accelerated world. The piece was shaped by hundreds of letters submitted by Australians from across the country, each addressed to an unknown reader somewhere in the world. Together, they formed a collective and deeply personal portrait of contemporary life in the 'Lucky Country'. The initiative draws on Cunard's 185-year legacy of carrying letters, stories and people across oceans. The iconic Queen, known for her transatlantic crossings, continues a maritime tradition rooted in endurance, elegance and the transportation of mail, ideas and human connection. Long before instant communication, Cunard ships served as lifelines between continents, connecting families, communities and nations. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images for Cunard)