Norfolk Island's Centenarian Legacy

Norfolk Island's Centenarian Legacy - 

 Since the arrival of the Pitcairners in 1856, Norfolk Island has celebrated seven residents who reached the remarkable milestone of 100 years. Unlike many modern societies where the elderly are sometimes marginalised, Norfolk Island continues to value and honour its older people in meaningful ways.

When someone reaches their centenary on Norfolk Island, the community acknowledges this extraordinary milestone in a special way that both celebrates the individual and enriches the island. One hundred plants are established somewhere on the island in their honour, creating living memorials that transform the landscape and provide visitors with unexpected discoveries of beauty and history.

Finding these commemorative plantings—whether along an avenue, at a scenic lookout, or in a garden—offers visitors a meaningful way to explore the island while connecting with its living history. Each collection of 100 plants tells a story not just of longevity, but of a community that honours its elders through sustainable, growing tributes that become increasingly beautiful with the passage of time.

Jemima Robinson, affectionately known as 'Aunt Jemima', holds the distinction of being Norfolk Island's first documented centenarian. When she turned 100 on 13 September 1970, a tradition was born that would honour all of Norfolk's future centenarians. In her memory, 100 Norfolk Island pines were planted along Country Road towards Kingston, near Watermill dam.

A teacher by training, a mother by vocation, with a beautiful singing voice, Aunt Jemima raised eight children, and exemplified the strong, resourceful character that is common amongst Norfolk's elders.

One story that captures Aunt Jemima's determination involves an occasion when, needing to deliver an urgent message to her husband Enoch (thought to be on Phillip Island), she placed her children in a boat and personally rowed across the challenging 6½ kilometre channel. Finding he wasn't there, she simply rowed back - a remarkable feat of strength and determination.

In an extraordinary family pattern of longevity, one of Norfolk Island's most recent centenarians was none other than the daughter of its first. Sylvia Esther Nobbs, known affectionately as 'Girlie', was Aunt Jemima's sixth child. Born on 18 March 1910, Girlie carried forward her mother's legacy of longevity, reaching her own 100th birthday in March 2010.

An enthusiastic gardener and sportswoman, Girlie maintained an active lifestyle well into her advanced years. Many recall seeing her zipping down Taylor's Road in her car almost until she reached her milestone 100th birthday—a testament to her independent spirit and vitality. 

A common thread running through the lives of Norfolk's centenarians suggests a lifestyle full of physical activity, meaningful social connections, purposeful daily activities, and a positive outlook. From Aunt Jemima's remarkable rowing expedition to Girlie's enthusiastic gardening well into her 90s, these centenarians maintained active lifestyles throughout their lives.

Our other centenarians: Charlotte ‘Mum’ Bailey, Ruby Matthews, Gordina Beveridge, Hazel Martin and Ralph Weslake.

Our social infrastructure on the island—where older people remain valued, included, and respected—may well contribute to the psychological wellbeing that supports longevity.

Rather than viewing advanced age as a private milestone, Norfolk Island celebrates it as a community achievement worthy of public recognition and lasting tribute. 

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Transcript

Welcome to Episode 44 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: You have just heard a snippet of a song sung many years ago, in an island home by Leo & Marie McCoy. 

Norfolk Island's Centenarian Legacy: A Celebration of Long Lives and Living Memorials

Since the arrival of the Pitcairners in 1856, Norfolk Island has celebrated seven residents who reached the remarkable milestone of 100 years. Unlike many modern societies where the elderly are sometimes marginalised, Norfolk Island continues to value and honour its older people in meaningful ways.

When someone reaches their centenary on Norfolk Island, the community acknowledges this extraordinary milestone in a special way that both celebrates the individual and enriches the island. One hundred plants are established somewhere on the island in their honour, creating living memorials that transform the landscape and provide visitors with unexpected discoveries of beauty and history.

Finding these commemorative plantings—whether along an avenue, at a scenic lookout, or in a garden—offers visitors a meaningful way to explore the island while connecting with its living history. Each collection of 100 plants tells a story not just of longevity, but of a community that honours its elders through sustainable, growing tributes that become increasingly beautiful with the passage of time.

This tradition represents the deep interconnection between our community and our natural environment, as well as our commitment to preserving memory through living monuments rather than stone. As these plants mature, they become integral parts of the island's landscape, much as the centenarians themselves were integral to our close-knit community.

Aunt Jemima: Norfolk's First Centenarian
Jemima Robinson, affectionately known as 'Aunt Jemima', holds the distinction of being Norfolk Island's first documented centenarian. When she turned 100 on 13 September 1970, a tradition was born that would honour all of Norfolk's future centenarians. In her memory, 100 Norfolk Island pines were planted along Country Road towards Kingston, near Watermill dam. These trees formed a lasting tribute to her long life and established the tradition of planting 100 living things as a celebratory commemoration.

A teacher by training, a mother by vocation, with a beautiful singing voice, Aunt Jemima raised eight children, and exemplified the strong, resourceful character that is common amongst Norfolk's elders.

One story that captures Aunt Jemima's determination involves an occasion when, needing to deliver an urgent message to her husband Enoch (thought to be on Phillip Island), she placed her children in a boat and personally rowed across the challenging 6½ kilometre channel. Finding he wasn't there, she simply rowed back - a remarkable feat of strength and determination.

In an extraordinary family pattern of longevity, one of Norfolk Island's most recent centenarians was none other than the daughter of its first. Sylvia Esther Nobbs, known affectionately as 'Girlie', was Aunt Jemima's sixth child. Born on 18 March 1910, Girlie carried forward her mother's legacy of longevity, reaching her own 100th birthday in March 2010.

An enthusiastic gardener and sportswoman, Girlie maintained an active lifestyle well into her advanced years. Many recall seeing her zipping down Taylor's Road in her car almost until she reached her milestone 100th birthday—a testament to her independent spirit and vitality.

Her son, Ken Nobbs, shared a telling anecdote about giving his mother a four-stroke rotary hoe for her 90th birthday, only to have her give it to another son because it "car go fars 'nough" (couldn't go fast enough). This brief story, told in Norfolk Island's distinctive language, perfectly captures Girlie's strength, character and energy.

AUDIO>> Have a listen now to a short interview with Girlie as hosted by Jilly and George at VL2NI in 2003. This is followed by another short snippet from an interview with Girlie and her son Ken in 2009 with Josh Nash.

A common thread running through the lives of Norfolk's centenarians suggests a lifestyle full of physical activity, meaningful social connections, purposeful daily activities, and a positive outlook. From Aunt Jemima's remarkable rowing expedition to Girlie's enthusiastic gardening well into her 90s, these centenarians maintained active lifestyles throughout their lives.

Our other centenarians: Charlotte ‘Mum’ Bailey, Ruby Matthews, Gordina Beveridge, Hazel Martin and Ralph Weslake.

Our social infrastructure on the island—where older people remain valued, included, and respected—may well contribute to the psychological wellbeing that supports longevity.
Rather than viewing advanced age as a private milestone, Norfolk Island celebrates it as a community achievement worthy of public recognition and lasting tribute.

AUDIO>> Have a listen now to Ena Ette Christian as she recites in the Norf’k language a segment from her book ‘From myse randa’ published in 1985.

For visitors to Norfolk Island, driving around the island and discovering the living tree memorials to these centenarians offer more than just scenic beauty—they provide insights into our community that has maintained traditional values around ageing and this creates an ongoing dialogue between past and present, person and place, individual and community—a living legacy that continues to grow in beauty and significance with each passing year.

Thanks so much for joining me this week!