Norfolk Island Online Magazine: Robin Butterfield

Robin Borgess (Young) was born 22 May 1945 in Australia, NSW. When she was 3 weeks old, she moved back home to the island with her adopted Mum and Dad. Robin’s mother and grandfather were descendants of the Young family however her great-grandmother was a Quintal. Robins biological mother is a Buffett and her father who was from South Australia came to Norfolk on a yacht where he met Robin’s mother and decided to stay.

During her childhood on Norfolk, Robin recalls the freedom of the island. She says growing up on the island during this time taught her how to work hard as they didn’t have any vehicles or horses so to get places you had to use “Shanks pony”, aka walking. They additionally had no water tanks, so they had to draw water out of the well and no taps and electricity so they had to use kerosene lamps.

For fun the children would go grass sliding down cockpit, climb trees and play marbles and cards. Whilst her mother cooked, Robins remembers running around the yard hunting for cooks and birds’ nest so she could supply her mother with eggs and goods for cooking. When she was 10 Robin had torticollis and had to be flown off island. The RSL sub branch generously held a fundraiser and raised enough money for her to fly to the mainland. Once Robin was away, she spent 10 months all by herself in the children’s hospital.

Robin went to school at Norfolk Island Central school located at Middlegate, however her mother went to the school down Kingston where the courthouse is now located. When asked if the kids back then appreciated living on Island she said not always as some would take about Australia and going out into the “Big World”. She says the grass always looks greener until they finally get there and want to come home. During this time the kids only went until year 8 or year 9, and Robins specific class only had 8 kids. Her class was the first class ever on Norfolk Island to have a class formal, they had their formal at the school in the classroom which is still there to this day. After school Robin started working at the hospital as a nurse’s aid, she did this for 2 years before moving away. The life on Norfolk was hard work but full of fun and a good life.

Until the 70’s the islanders weren’t concerned with how often Norfolk language was being spoken. This caused a steady recline in how well spread our culture and heritage is. Robin’s biggest regret is not owning a tape recorder back then as the language was spoken slightly differently, with the syllables being more emphasized. She personally prefers how it was pronounced back then.

After moving away, Robin met her husband. Robin and Kevin moved back home and had 3 children, Naydene, Luke and Adon. She now has 7 grandkids and 7 great grandkids and spends her days helping events around the island and living in her beautiful, forever island home.