Flags at the Bowling Club

During August the NIO 2022 Triples was held at the Bowling Club, you may have spotted this flag flying at the front fence. The special flag was the Lord

Howe Island flag. Visitors from Lord Howe were competing in the August bowl’s competition and it as fantastic they proudly flew their island home flag during the tournament. I enjoyed meeting some of the team members from Lord Howe and congratulations to the Young team finishing runner up of the NIO 2022 Men’s Triples.

I thought I should learn about their flag. The Flag of Lord Howe Island is the unofficial flag of the island, an unincorporated area of New South Wales administered by the Lord Howe Island Board. The unofficial flag of Lord Howe Island, which was designed by Sydney-based vexillologist John Vaughan, was first flown in November 1998. The yellow centre of the flag evokes the island's topography and depicts a Kentia palm, while the surrounding area of flag utilizes the pre-1801 Union Jack, excluding the red of St George's Cross and Saint Patrick's Saltire.

If you wish to learn more check out this internet link.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Lord_Howe_Island.svg

Lord Howe Island has an active bowling club and in mid-November this year the Quadrangular lawn bowls competition will be held on Lord Howe. This is an annual bowls event “Quadrangle Challenge” with Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island, Royal NSW Bowls Association and ACT bowlers attending and each year the bowlers have an opportunity to visit each of the regions. In March 2020, I travelled with the Norfolk Island team to Canberra, and it was lovely to met so many friendly bowlers and host.

Lord Howe Island was discovered by the British in 1788, the same period as settling on Norfolk Island in March 1788. Travel to Lord Howe Island is via Australia with flights from Sydney and Brisbane. Lord Howe Island is approximately 660km off the east coast of Australia. I have heard that many years ago it was possible to charter a flight from Norfolk Island to Lord Howe Island. I have not travelled to Lord Howe Island, but it would be so much fun to go island hopping.

Lord Howe Island is World Heritage-listed for its outstanding natural beauty, remarkable geology and rare collection of birds, plants and marine life, Lord Howe is surrounded by the world’s southernmost coral reef. The pristine waters teeming with marine life and rare coral from Lord Howe Island Marine Park, one of the largest in New South Wales. I read that is has breathtaking beauty and tropical ambience is an incredible experience from the moment you arrive, and you will easily see why Lord Howe Island is often called Australia’s last great paradise.

Here is a photo I took of the Lord Howe flag, and I hope the visitors enjoyed their visit to our South Pacific Island.

Betty Matthews

September 2022