AUSTRALIA NOT IN THE PICTURE!

Today they unveiled a magificent Mosaic mural at the Norfolk Island Airport. The mural is a sesqui-centenary gift to the island from the Community Arts Society, and a large number of local residents contributed to the project with time, hard work and creative ideas.
I am told that there was a "brainstorming session" early in the project for ideas of what should be included, and from nearly 300 original suggestions, close to 100 themes, images and symbols were incorporated into the design. These include symbols from Tahiti and Pitcairn, as well as numerous aspects of the history of the community on Norfolk Island. It includes personalities, families, culture, transport, houses, flora and fauna, education, foods, crafts, everyday objects and landmarks, and much more that is unique to our community.
The Bounty and the Morayshire are shown, and so are Tahiti and Pitcairn and Norfolk. There are depictions of their strong Polynesian traditions as well as their British ones.
But you will not see Australia. Or anything about Australia.
Unless you count the model of the Cenotaph, which records the names of all those Norfolkers who fought for King and Country in two World Wars. They fought to defend their island and the freedom of the people of the region. And now the country whose flag they fought under is wanting to deprive the descendants of those proud and brave men of their rights as free citizens of Norfolk Island.
You see, this community never ever chose to migrate to Australia or settle there. They came from Pitcairn to Norfolk Island in 1856, believing it was being granted to them by their British Queen. They were content to be under the paternal oversight of the Queen's representative, Captain Dennison, Governor of Norfolk Island (who also happened to be Governor of Britain's colony of New South Wales.)
When they were annexed and brought under the New South Wales Government in 1896, no one consulted them or asked if they wanted this. In fact, they made it clear they did not!
When the island was brought under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1913, once again no one bothered to ask if this was what they wanted.
In more recent years, islanders who thought they were born to be citizens of Norfolk have been told they are, by default, citizens of Australia. No one is quite sure when it happened, and certainly no one asked if they minded.
Norfolk people have never chosen to identify with or be just another part of multicultural Australia. Their ethnicity, their heritage and their culture are quite separate and different from that of Australia and Australians. They feel first and foremost Norfolk Islanders.

As one admires this mural, one realises that the people of this community have a very rich and colourful tradition, heritage and culture, of which they are justly proud. It is their Pitcairn/Norfolk heritage, and these people are prepared to stand firm to preserve their unique and special identity.