Norfolk Island Foundation Day 2022

Last weekend, on Sunday 6^th March 2022, the weather was settled which was relief as the rain and wind have been threatening with tropical weather out to sea. Louise Tavener, from Go Norfolk, and many helpers, actors, volunteers have been busy preparing for the 232^nd Anniversary of the Norfolk Island Foundation Day.

The First Fleeters arrived here on Norfolk Island on the 6^th March 1788. Twenty-two First Fleeters, including Lieutenant Phillip Gidley King arrived on the ship HMAT Supply. After spending several days looking for a safe place to land on Norfolk Island coastline, they managed to safely come ashore at Kingston. At first this area was called “Sydney Town” and the coast area was named “Sydney Bay”. “Kingston” was initially called “King’s Town” after Lieutenant Phillip Gidley King who was the first Governor of Norfolk Island.

At the re-enactment, the local Norfolk Islanders actors dressed in old fashion clothing and military costumes, and they boarded two replica boats at the far end of Emily Bay and the men rowed across the calm, water to the Salt Mill end of the bay and came ashore on the sandy beach carrying crates and even a chook inside a wooden cage. Once on the beach, they walked to the prepared public viewing area and set up a camp site and hoisted the British Flag and claimed Norfolk Island in the name of His Majesty King George III and drunk a toast to King and Country.

Local school children also played an important part of the morning’s performance. They read the First Settlers’ stories, painting a picture of the characters of those who first settled this remote South Pacific Island on the 6^th March 1788. This was a proud moment for many parents, also down there for the mornings re-enactment, with their cameras to take photos of their children involved with the morning’s festivities.

Norfolk Island locals, many visitors, and most important, the descendants of the First Fleeters enjoyed the mornings celebrations, many of whom acknowledge and pay respect to their forebears, the founders of Norfolk Island. The morning celebration also makes us all recognise the significance of the contribution the First Fleeters all made. This history and culture is now embedded into Norfolk Island for future generations.

At the conclusion of the ceremony refreshment and lunch was available at the Norfolk Island Rotary Club and Norfolk Island Arthurs Vale Lions had organised food stall for those who wished to enjoy time at the beach and under the shade of the Norfolk Pine trees.

I thoroughly enjoyed my morning photographing the activities. Thank you, Go Norfolk, Louise Tavener, for co-ordinating and managing the event, the Norfolk Island Museum and KAVHA staff for assisting with the historical aspects of Foundation Day. Thanks Jimbo Tavener and all of the helpers for all the setup and packing up of equipment, the KAHVA boys for all the props they supplied, also for the amazing boats, and the work preparing them for the day’s events. A big thank you to the Norfolk Island Museum staff and also Louci Reynolds for managing all the young students who had speaking roles and compering the children. Thank you to everyone else involved in making the morning a success.

The final big thank you must go to the actors who made the magic happen. Once again, they all did themselves proud and I’m sure all the visitors who attended will be thrilled to have been at the Norfolk Island Foundation Day 232-year celebration.

I had my camera gear prepared ready to photograph this years’ re-enactment of the historical occasion and enjoyed my morning taking hundreds of images which I have shared on my Facebook page, Norfolk Island photos.

https://www.facebook.com/NorfolkIslandPhotos

If you would like to read more about the arrival of the First Fleeters and the history, check out the First Fleet Fellowship organisation internet page

http://firstfleetfellowship.org.au/convicts/norfolk-island-settlement/

Betty Matthews

March 2022