Anniversary day, children, education and a youth assembly!

Anniversary day, children, education and a youth assembly! -

 On June 8, 1856, one hundred and ninety-four souls arrived on Norfolk Island, marking this current significant chapter in Norfolk Island’s history. These individuals, descendants of Tahitian foremothers and the HMAV Bounty mutineers, embarked on a gruelling 33-day sea journey aboard the naval vessel, Morayshire, from Pitcairn Island. The surnames of Christian, Young, Adams, Quintal, McCoy, Nobbs, Evans, and Buffett, were all on board. During the voyage, one child was born and named Reuben Denison Christian. This arrival was a profound transition for a community stepping into a new homeland settlement.

Of the 194 persons who arrived on Norfolk Island that day, the demographic breakdown included 40 men, 47 women, 54 boys, and 53 girls, all under the age of 16. This meant that 107 children arrived on the island, effectively transforming it into a "new playground" for them.

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It is wonderful to awaken on the morning of 8 June each year to sunshine - to lay out our ‘Bounty’ clothes, nicely pressed and when worn, adorned with shells and traditionally plaited island hats. 

If, by chance, it is overcast or it looks like rain, we sigh, we pack an umbrella, we weigh up whether will we walk the distance from the pier to the cemetery and then consider where will we set up our picnic lunch? 

This is how I celebrate Anniversary Day. 

But this idealised version of enjoying a lovely sunny day to commemorate our Anniversary Day each year, quickly fades amidst historical journal entries, revealing a different reality. The historical accounts reveal that the day of arrival in 1856 was marked by squalls, gales, strong tides, and bad weather. This stark contrast between the modern celebration and the actual conditions of the arrival highlights the importance of acknowledging these original hardships as faced by our descendants.

In George Hunn Nobbs Journal of 8 June 1856, he describes:

“Cloudy weather. Close in with Norfolk Island, very much disappointed in its appearance from the present point of view, which is directly off the settlement, presents a succession of hillocks and shallow ravines covered with short brown grass, and scarcely a tree to be seen. Everyone much disappointed having been accustomed to hear the place much extolled. No doubt other parts of the Island have a better appearance but this side certainly loses in the comparison with our “Rock of the West”.

Classes began in the New Military Barracks at Kingston on 14 July 1856. 

The attendance of all children was compulsory. The next year, Governor Denison published laws and regulations for the island which included school attendance ~ the earliest legislation of its kind in the British empire.

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In 1999, the Norfolk Island Youth Assembly was created with the help of the Chief Minister at the time, George Smith, the Science teacher Peter Langley and the school librarian, Trish Magri. Students chair the meetings according to parliamentary-style rules, discussing and making decisions on environmental issues and other problems that concern young people.

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Island destinations offer a rich tapestry of cultural experiences that families can enjoy together. Visit museums, art galleries, or historical sites to gain insights into the island's history and heritage. Engage in hands-on activities that allow children to learn about the local culture.

If you wish to join us for our Anniversary celebrations please get in touch with Baunti Tours. The team would be happy to help with your planning and bookings.

And we look forward to welcoming you soon!

Untold Norfolk Island Travel Podcast Series - Sponsored by Baunti Tours www.bauntitours.com

Transcript

Anniversary day, children, education and a youth assembly!

Welcome to Episode 16 of the Untold Norfolk Island travel podcast series.

My name is Jodie Williams and as a Norfolk Islander & Churchill Fellow, I am your ‘on island’ podcast host.

Audio - A favourite island hymn: ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ as sung by Susan Pedel and ‘Orl Ucklun’ album.

On June 8, 1856, one hundred and ninety-four souls arrived on Norfolk Island, marking this current significant chapter in Norfolk Island’s history. These individuals, descendants of Tahitian foremothers and the HMAV Bounty mutineers, embarked on a gruelling 33-day sea journey aboard the naval vessel, Morayshire, from Pitcairn Island. The surnames of Christian, Young, Adams, Quintal, McCoy, Nobbs, Evans, and Buffett, were all on board. During the voyage, one child was born and named Reuben Denison Christian. This arrival was a profound transition for a community stepping into a new homeland settlement.

Of the 194 persons who arrived on Norfolk Island that day, the demographic breakdown included 40 men, 47 women, 54 boys, and 53 girls, all under the age of 16. This meant that 107 children arrived on the island, effectively transforming it into a "new playground" for them.

Each year in June, the Norfolk Island community celebrates Anniversary Day, also known as Bounty Day, with a re-enactment of the arrival of the Pitcairners.

It is wonderful to awaken on the morning of 8 June to sunshine - to lay out our ‘Bounty’ clothes, nicely pressed and when worn, adorned with shells and traditionally plaited island hats.

If, by chance, it is overcast or it looks like rain, we sigh, we pack an umbrella, we weigh up whether will we walk the distance from the pier to the cemetery and then consider where will we set up our picnic lunch? Rain on this particular day is an inconvenience to the festivities. We particularly enjoy our day of ‘walking the walk & talking the talk’ on a brilliant sunny day, well planned & organised.

This is how I celebrate Anniversary Day.

But this idealised version of enjoying a lovely sunny day to commemorate our Anniversary Day each year, quickly fades amidst historical journal entries, revealing a different reality. The historical accounts reveal that the day of arrival in 1856 was marked by squalls, gales, strong tides, and bad weather. This stark contrast between the modern celebration and the actual conditions of the arrival highlights the importance of acknowledging these original hardships as faced by our descendants.

It was 6 June w 1856 when the Morayshire was first sighted.

Fletcher Nobbs and his wife Susan, who was close to confinement, were sent ashore at once, but were forced to return as the tide had risen too high, and with a heavy surf running, it was not possible to land.

HMS Herald had reached the island a few days earlier, with Captain Denham and his crew awaiting the Pitcairners arrival so they could assist with the landing.Conditions were far from easy as described by Howard on the Herald:

"I was laying off alongside the Morayshire, waiting for my turn of about 30 minutes, and could see the way in which they scrambled down the ships side. She was rolling violently and consequently the boats rose and fell about 15 feet, so that it was an awkward job getting the women and the children into the boats, sometimes they were left hanging by the hands some 10 feet above the boats, others let go at the wrong time and came down by the (run?) into the boats. The poor children were passed down like pigs by the arms and legs and stowed under the boats thwarts. One or 2 women got rather wet by holding on to the bottom of the ladder when the ship rolled to windward."

In George Hunn Nobbs Journal of 8 June 1856, he describes:

“Cloudy weather. Close in with Norfolk Island, very much disappointed in its appearance from the present point of view, which is directly off the settlement, presents a succession of hillocks and shallow ravines covered with short brown grass, and scarcely a tree to be seen. Everyone much disappointed having been accustomed to hear the place much extolled. No doubt other parts of the Island have a better appearance but this side certainly loses in the comparison with our “Rock of the West”. At 8 o’clock the anchor was let go, and preparations made for debarking. By one, the whole community, assisted by the boats of HMS Herald were safely landed. During the whole of the debarkation Captain Denham remained on the pier notwithstanding the heavy rain and welcomed our people as they landed to their new home; and evinced the greatest anxiety for our comfort. Toward the close of this eventful day we all assembled in a large upper room in the soldier’s barracks, where we solemnly and gratefully offered our thanks and praises, to our Triune God for his continued goodness and mercy, in thus bringing us to our future earthy home, and I trust we were sincere in imploring his watchful care that we swerve not to the right nor the left.”

Upon their arrival, the Pitcairners were received by a select body of the former staff, who were left in charge of the property. They were provided with sheep, cattle, ploughs, teams, and carts. The settlers chose various pursuits, such as sheep farming, butchering, farming, and dairying. The houses, detached and made of stone, featured dark and empty rooms but were now furnished  with neat beds and for the families and children. 

The prior occupation of Norfolk Island as the Second British Penal Settlement had taken place from 1825 - 1855. Norfolk Island had been a place to send “the worst description of convicts”. The geographical isolation and remoteness was an advantage as a place to send twice-convicted men. Reformation was not an objective. Norfolk Island was a prison isle. 

Not a year after the closing of the penal settlement, the Pitcairners arrived. The island's history as a prison deeply contrasts with the vision of it as a new home and a children’s playground.

The transition from a penal colony to a sanctuary for a new community required immense resilience and adaptation. Over time, the Pitcairn descendants transformed the island into a place of belonging and identity.

Classes began in the New Military Barracks at Kingston on 14 July 1856. 
The attendance of all children was compulsory. The next year, Governor Denison published laws and regulations for the island which included school attendance ~ the earliest legislation of its kind in the British empire.

>>>Have a listen to a recording as captured by Radio NZ in 1948 with Fletcher Christian on Norfolk Island

Norfolk Islander, the late Trish Magri was our school librarian for many years. She was acknowledged in the booklet: Women as Agents of Change - A project co-funded by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA) and the Norfolk Island Branch of the CPA to commemorate Commonwealth Day 2011 on Norfolk Island South Pacific as >>> inspiring, empowering with a wonderful thirst for knowledge - Her belief in the quote that “you never stop learning and never stop sharing ideas and information” took Trish from an inquisitive school student with a fascination for technology to an IT professional, teaching students and community members and breaking down the digital divide at that time on Norfolk Island.
Trish’s fascination with technology began with her first purchase of a transistor radio, tape recorder and record player from “Prentices” the duty free shop on Norfolk Island. Back then she was one of the first of her peers to have this cutting edge technology.
Trish Magri initially studied Medical Technology whilst working at Monash University, Melbourne. She returned to Norfolk Island in 1972, and took over the role of School Librarian at Norfolk Island Central School. Proving that isolation is not an issue in continuing your education, Trish studied by Distance education; Library and Information Science and a Graduate Diploma in Education and Vocational Training, then in Information Technology to enable her to teach in both the school and TAFE sectors.
Despite living on Norfolk Island, her first students were actually in NSW with lessons via email and the internet through the New England Institute of TAFE, Tamworth.
Her vision also included empowering community members, who did not grow up with new technology, in the use of computers.

In 1981, students were given a voice in the operation of the school with the formation of the nine-member Student Representative Council. The council met regularly to discuss pupil welfare and other areas of need within the school.
Eighteen years later, the Norfolk Island Youth Assembly was created with the help of the Chief Minister at the time, George Smith, the Science teacher Peter Langley and the school librarian, Trish Magri.
Students chair the meetings according to parliamentary-style rules, discussing and making decisions on environmental issues and other problems that concern young people. They would liaise with members of the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly on key issues. Guest speakers and local experts give background information on subjects to help with their decision-making.
The Norfolk Island Youth Assembly was one of the first Youth Assemblies in the Commonwealth. As well as consulting with the Norfolk Island Government, the Norfolk Island Police, Administration staff and other Norfolk Island organizations, young people from Norfolk Island Central School have learnt the fundamentals of democracy. Over the past sixteen years, it has been proven time and time again, that “young people do make a difference”.
For Youth Assembly members, familiarity with the Roads Act 2002 and Traffic Act 2010 has been stimulated with the updating of the Norfolk Island Road Traffic Handbook and their becoming holders of a motor vehicle licence.
Youth Assembly members recognize that holding a licence to drive a bike or a car is a privilege and that the rules of the road on Norfolk Island are not the same as in a mainland environment, so a current Handbook is really important.
Norfolk Island does not have traffic lights, multi-lane highways, multi-lane roundabouts, on and off ramps from highways. The Handbook was a vital guide for anyone preparing to sit for a driving test.

- An Island Education, Brian Mercer 1987, revised 2006.

>>> Listen to the late Foxy McCoy as he speaks about children growing up on the island.

Planning a family vacation to an island destination can be both exciting and daunting. The journey, especially with children, can pose unique challenges requires careful consideration and planning. You need to pack for a variety of activities, from swimming and sunbathing to exploring and dining.

The flight arrival into the island includes the plane gently descending for quite a while at the end of the flight time - this can sometimes play havoc with children’s ears adjusting so it’s important to either bottle feed your baby as the descent is taking place or give a chewy treat to young toddlers so they can help to equalise the pressure in their ears with the chewing action.

Island destinations offer a rich tapestry of cultural experiences that families can enjoy together. Visit museums, art galleries, or historical sites to gain insights into the island's history and heritage. Engage in hands-on activities that allow children to learn about the local culture.

As a seventh-generation descendant, I love my Norfolk Island homeland. It is my home.  And I hold a deep respect and appreciation to my forebears who with resilience, faith, community spirit and love, created this our new homeland, Norfolk Island, for our children’s children.

If you wish to join us for our Anniversary celebrations please get in touch with Baunti Tours. The team would be happy to help with your planning and bookings.

And we look forward to welcoming you soon!

Thanks so much for joining me this week!