LETTER TO THE EDITOR 21st March 2015

 

 

It is disappointing that Australia's representative on Norfolk Island has cast a shadow over the planned Anzac Day celebrations by taking a stand against local traditions.

 

 

Administrator Gary Hardgraves -he has re-written Norfolk Island's history to suit Australia.

 
 Now we are also  being subjected to some not-so-subtle attempts through the media to politicise Foundation Day and even Harmony Day. It seems to be part of a pattern of spin to give the impression that the Norfolk Island is just a little backwater of the bigger Australia , and that the Norfolk Island we know today is just a stage in some mythical continuous settlement that began in Australia's colonial origins.

We are also being told that Norfolk Islanders are  one of a large diversity of ethnic groups within Australia. The problem with this assertion is that all those ethnic groups, except for the Norfolk Islanders and the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, have at some stage left their home countries to live in Australia, and while they adopt the Australian way of life, their culture continues to thrive in their ethnic homelands in other parts of the world. Norfolk Island is our only homeland. Making this island's people become fully fledged members of "Team Australia" reeks of arrogant and insensitive colonialism.

George Hunn Nobbs, who as their leader brought the Pitcairn people to Norfolk Island

Norfolk Islanders as a community have never migrated to Australia, and Norfolk Island was not part of that country when the Pitcairners came to make Norfolk their home in 1856. They have never at any stage asked to be part of Australia, nor have they ever been asked or consulted about being placed under Australia's authority.

There is no way that the Norfolk Island community or way of life had its origins in Australia's colonial period. Nevertheless, we have always been happy to respect that aspect of this island's history, and to care for, preserve and promote interest in the buildings, artefacts and stories of that period, and to recognise their value in attracting many of our visitors. Sadly, KAHVA and World Heritage give little recognition to the fact that the Bounty descendant families made their homes in those Kingston buildings for almost twice as long as the penal settlement occupation. The Kingston area was their “town” for 52 years before they were shamefully evicted in 1908.

A pair of proud Norfolk Islanders

Australians have every reason to be proud of their heritage and culture and growth as a nation. But please do not try to overlay it and impose it onto the story of the Norfolk Island people. Theirs is a different narrative. From uncertain beginnings, the forebears of Norfolk's people forged a community that was law abiding, productive, caring and resilient. They achieved this in spite of living on small remote islands like Pitcairn and Norfolk, and they did it using their own resources and hard work. And they did it in the face of many obstacles, something that is still happening today.

Norfolk draws on its culture  originally from Britain, Tahiti and Pitcairn, and over the years many have come to join us also from New Zealand, and other parts of the world, and yes, that includes Australia. The Melanesian Mission, the American whalers, the wartime experiences and the tourist and agricultural booms all played a part in building our community.To this day, we  feel strong connections with our Pacific neighbours and cousins. We continue to welcome those who come and identify with our values and way of life. In many ways we are a melting pot, but it is NOT the same melting pot as Australia’s.

The propaganda that we are being subjected to is probably designed to blur and even blot out the unique and separate identity of the Norfolk Island people, the Bounty descendants, and those who have come to join them and invest their lives in this island for the long term, unlike those short term residents of the penal colonial days.

Now you and I may not always understand what it is that the Norfolk Island people hold dear in their hearts, what sustains their spirit, and what constitutes their unique heritage and identity. We may not fully grasp those intangibles that underpin their special relationship to this island. But these things should be acknowledged, respected and honoured.

The Minister responsible for Norfolk Island has little understanding of how things work here

Anniversary(Bounty) Day is coming up soon. Will the Administrator also seek to lay claim to that occasion as a celebration of Australian heritage, culture and values?

Yours sincerely

Mary Christian-Bailey