Norfolk Island Commonwealth Games Flag Bearers

On Sunday 9 July the Norfolk Island Commonwealth Games representatives proudly gathered at Rawson Hall at 9am all dressed in the new official uniforms ready to walk through the Sunday morning markets and along the road to the Norfolk Island Bowling Club. Locals and visitors cheered them as they walked the pathway along Taylors Road and Shae Wilson had a large fan club greeting her as the team arrived at the Norfolk Island Bowling Club.

Mal Tarrant, the President of the Norfolk Island Amateur Sports, and Commonwealth Games Association, announced the Flag Bearers for the Opening Ceremony. Tim Sheridan and Shae Wilson proudly excepted the honour of being the Norfolk Island flag bearers and they led the team on the parade walk, carrying the Norfolk Island flag and Perry the Bull the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games’ mascot.

The representative team looked smart in their official uniform and there is a separate sports uniform for Lawn Bowls competitions. A big thank you to Monica and Ian Anderston from World Traders, who sponsored the shoes for the team’s uniform. Thank you, Norfolk Island Amateur Sports and Commonwealth Games Association, for organising the uniform, the flights along with the behind-the-scenes details to make it possible to travel to the UK for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth Games is from 28 July to 8 August 2022, and the Games Opening Ceremony set to take place at Alexander Stadium on Thursday 28 July, with all 72 Commonwealth countries including Norfolk Island.

The Norfolk Island team are flying to England this week and are travelling first to Brisbane, then onto Dubai and eventually to England finishing their journey in Birmingham.

This year the only Norfolk Island team that are competing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games are the Men and Women Lawn Bowls team, and the bowls games will be played during the two weeks of competitions.

Norfolk Island Chef de Mission for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games is Mal Tarrant. Mal has taken the place of Sheryl Yelavich who was unable to attend the games. Also travelling to the UK are Norfolk Island Amateur Sports and Commonwealth Games Association member Jac Grundy and the President Mal Tarrant wife Rae, they are all heading to Birmingham for the games.

Lawn Bowls Women teams:

Shae Wilson (singles & pairs), Carmen Anderson (pairs & fours), Petal - Christine Jones (triples & fours), Essie - Ester Sanchez (triples & fours), Ellie Dixon (triples & fours)

Lawn Bowls Men’s team:

Ryan Dixon (singles & triples), Tim Sheridan (pairs & fours), Moochie - John Christian (pairs & fours), Teddy -Hadyn Evans (triples & fours), Trev Gow (triples & fours).

Officials Team Mangers for the trip are

Carla Miles, Tanya Randall, Barry Wilson & John Groat.

The Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls events will be held at the bowling club located at Victoria-Park, on Archery Road, Royal Leamington Spa, located in the heart of Warwickshire. The town’s popularity was largely due to its natural spa springs, discovered and commercialised in the nineteenth century.

We wish our Norfolk Island team all the best and know they will all do us proud. I look forward to watching our Norfolk Island team, led by Shae and Tim proudly carrying the Norfolk Island flag, at the Opening Ceremony. Here are a few photos I took of the team last weekend proudly wearing their Norfolk Island uniforms and flying the Norfolk Island flag.

Betty Matthews

July 2022