Bounty Day – Anniversary Day

Thursday this week is the 167-year Anniversary Day, also known as Bounty Day. The 8^th June celebrates the arrival of the Pitcairn Islanders on Norfolk Island back in 1856.

It is a very special event on Norfolk Island. Many family members return home for the re-enactment of their Pitcairn ancestors arriving on Norfolk Island all those years ago. Anniversary Day is a public holiday on Norfolk Island and this year, Thursday 8 June is the day we will all be downtown at Kingston, ready for the special Bounty Day walk through Kingston, with hymns and flowers at the cenotaph and cemetery and lots of smiles and chats with family and friends.

It is now time for everyone to plan what they will be wearing on Anniversary Day, maybe it is time to check out their bounty day clothing and see if they still fit. The challenge is then to plan what traditional whettle treats they will be making for the Bounty Day picnic. I love the picnic in the Kingston Compound, starting with singing grace and ending with the Baunti Beauties dancing and especially the little ones when they join in with the big dancing girls, plus it is fantastic to see the boys are also learning traditional dances to share with the community.

This weekend on Saturday 3 June is the Bounty Ball, which is another beautiful tradition here on Norfolk Island. The children have been busy learning dances and will be looking forward to dressing up on the big night at Rawson Hall. Parents, families, and friends will be watching and photographing them as they dance the night away, and there are a few trophies as well, I’m sure the judges will have a tough time choosing winners. Thank you to all the organisers and the tutors who have been spending time with the students over the past month or so.

Thank you to the Norfolk Island Council of Elders for all the work organising this amazing day for the community to come together and celebrate the Anniversary of the arrival of their ancestors on Norfolk Island. Listen to the local Norfolk Island Radio for times to meet at Kingston Pier or follow the Council of Elders Facebook page for details. Plus, they are organising a Norfolk Island Community Awards on Saturday 10 June, tickets $45 per person for a beautiful dinner which will be held at the Norfolk Island RSL Memorial Club, starting at 6pm.

I look forward to the beautiful Anniversary Day at Kingston, I have our Norfolk plaited hats ready, and I will have to make sure I have plenty of room on my camera to capture another stunning Norfolk Island event. Here are a few favourite photos from previous Bounty Days.

Happy Bounty Anniversary Day

Betty Matthews

June 2023