Bligh urges big welcome for Jess

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Jessica Watson returns to Queensland

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Around the world with Jessica Watson

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PREMIER Anna Bligh has encouraged Queenslanders to give teen adventurer Jessica Watson "the homecoming she deserves" this weekend.

Ms Bligh said she would be among the crowd at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday to welcome back the 17-year-old sailor following her successful circumnavigation of the globe.

"I encourage people to be out to give her all their well-wishes - she's an extraordinary young woman and a great Australian," the premier told reporters in Rockhampton

"We have been working closely with her family to make sure she gets the homecoming she deserves and the homecoming she is hoping for."

However, Ms Bligh said the teen - who is sailing from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast - did not want too much fuss.

"Jessica herself doesn't want any unnecessary or extravagant excess or expenditure and I think that's a great credit to her," she said.

The premier said an event management company had been engaged to deal with the expected crowd numbers.

"We saw in Sydney thousands of people come out. We need to make sure that people are kept safe and this event is managed carefully," she said.