ANGELS AND EAGLES

Norfolk Island was discovered by Captain Cook in 1774. In 1788, just days after the first penal settlement was established by Britain in Sydney Cove, Australia, an expedition was sent to the island to establish a small penal colony there. Norfolk Island ....5 miles by 3, and about 1000 miles from Sydney....was strategically and economically important then, and still is!
What that first expedition did not realise at the time was that the island had recently been visited by La Perouse, the French explorer, who, seeing a place surrounded by steep cliffs and heavily wooded by tall Norfolk Island pines, declared it to be fit only for "angels and eagles".
Those poor convicts from Britain, who were forced to spend time here living in harsh conditions, up until the 1850's, may well have thought the island to be inhospitable as well as feeling painfully isolated from their families and homes on the other side of the world.
However, when the penal colony was abandoned and moved to Tasmania, the island was given to the Pitcairn Islanders by Queen Victoria as their new home. Their remote and beloved Pitcairn had become too small, and although they were saddened to leave, they settled on Norfolk Island, put down their roots, built houses, cultivated the soil, and the descendants still call it their home today. Over the years, they have been joined by others who value the peacefulness and beauty, the resourcefulness and hospitality of the people, and the very unique heritage and values of the community.
The history of the people of Norfolk Island is separate from that of Australia and Australians, and indeed of the island itself, because their beginnings go back to the Mutiny of the Bounty, and the intermarriage of those mutineers with the Tahitian women. Nevertheless, in this 150th anniversary year of their arrival here, although they respect the colonial history of the place, this is very much "awus hoem" (our home).
Through various events in British and Australian colonial history, Norfolk Island has been allowed to come under the oversight of Australia, but its people never really thought of themselves as an integral part of mainstream Australia. In recognition of the island's unique heritage and culture, we were granted a measure of self-government in 1978, which was meant to be progressed and developed as time went on, so the island could be governed by Norfolk Islanders for Norfolk Islanders.
With an announcement by the Minister for Territories on Monday, that situation is to change.
We are to be drawn into the Australian system.
The stated reason is to ensure the island's economic sustainability.
They say "the current governance model is unsustainable."
They say this "marks a positive turning point for the future of Norfolk Island and the wellbeing of its people."
I wonder.
More than that, I feel hurt and betrayed on behalf of this island and its people. Everything in my values and beliefs about what is good and right about this place is being turned on its head.
I am married to a Norfolk Islander. I have five adult Norfolk Islander children. I have lived here and loved it for forty years, and have truly burned my bridges behind me. I am deeply concerned for this place that I call my home too.
I will be reflecting more on the situation in future posts. Meanwhile, to find out more about the proposed changes, you can go to
www.dotars.gov/au/terr/norfolk