Jessica Watson, 16, might disagree with the Prime Minister of Australia that she is our “newest hero”, but for women around the world fighting for equality, independence and justice, girls trying to convince men of their dreams and women looking for inspiration - she is just that!

According to Wikipedia the meaning of hero (male) and heroine (female) came to refer to characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self sacrifice – that is, heroism – for some greater good of all humanity, originally of martial courage or excellence but extended to more general moral excellence.

Jessica may not realise yet by being the youngest female, at the age of 16, to solo circumnavigate the globe in a sailboat could possibly benefit the greater good of humanity because, what comes from her courage and self sacrifice, only each individual’s heart she touched can tell.

As I walked around the huge crowd surrounding the Sydney Opera House awaiting Jessica’s seven month exploration of our earth’s oceans totaling 23000 nautical miles (about 38000km) I saw so many faces in many shades and  many ages.  There were young girls, middle aged men, mothers, grandmothers and even an elderly man almost 90 years old all dressed in dinky die, true blue Australian attire holding a sign quoting the famous Housman poem “Home is the Sailor, Home from the Sea”. They all saw the importance of this moment.

The crowd lining the steps of the Opera House all the way to Mrs. Macquarie Chair waited an extra 3 hours as she completed her 210 day journey sailing upwind into the heads down into Sydney Harbour and on to Man O War steps at the Opera House where a pink carpet lay out before her. She may have been a few hours later then planned but no one budged. Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his wife Therese Rein waited patiently as she made her way accompanied by a parade of boats full of supporters.

For a young girl who had survived the world’s wildest oceans alone at sea for the past seven months leaning on no-one else but her trusty Ella’s Pink Lady vessel showed a bit of apprehension when it came time to step onto dry land.  It must be like saying goodbye to your best friend.

But when she finally stepped away from her vessel she fell into loving arms as her parents grabbed hold of her and cried.  Supported by her father Roger and brother Tom they made their way down the long pink carpet past the cheering crowds and onto a stage joined by her mother Julie, New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

It was at that point when Kevin Rudd gave an honorary speech welcoming Jessica home and dubbing her Australia’s “newest hero”. Jessica, weak from her travels and still finding her sea legs stood up and retorted the PM stating, “I have to have to disagree with you Prime Minister. I don’t consider myself a hero. I’m just an ordinary girl who believed in her dream. You don't have to be someone special or anything special to achieve something amazing. You've just got to have a dream believe in it and work hard.”

If she wasn’t already, she became my hero at that moment! Not only has she proved herself to be a great adventurer and explorer, but a strong woman who can stand up to people in politics.  I have a feeling this is not the last we will hear from Jessica Watson.

Jessica went on to make a speech just as worthy to put in the history books as her sailing accomplishments. She expressed a message to “teenagers and especially girls that they can achieve anything once people stop judging them by their looks.”  

She added, “You’ve got to believe in it. Anything is possible if you want it. You’ve just got to put the effort in.” It was a spectacular day for Jessica and for women and girls across the world.

Watch and listen to more of Jessica Watson’s speech:

www.ExplorerGirls.com / Courtney Crow 

Images: www.CourtneyCrowPhoto.com