When eighteen-year-old Eva Carmichael boarded the Loch Ard, she did so amidst rumours that the ships of the Loch Line were cursed. And so it came to pass. In 1878, the magnificent clipper was wrecked off the treacherous coast of Victoria, Australia. Though the sole female survivor, and despite having lost her entire family, Eva refused to conform to the romantic image of the ‘maiden in distress.’ In the face of a media storm, Eva remained true to herself and resolute in demanding respect for her independence. Her courage and strength are qualities that still mark Eva Carmichael out today as a truly heroic woman.