Thanksgiving Day on Norfolk Island

Thanksgiving Day is a tradition given to the people of Norfolk Island by the visiting American Whalers in the early 19th Century. It continues to this day and as you can see from the following photographs, it is alive and well.  Held on the last Wednesday in November, Thanksgiving is enjoyed by all the churches.  We went to All Saints Church, Kingston, where  ~ with the exception of the United Church ~ each religious house on Norfolk Island took part in the Service.  It's a joyous occasion and a much loved part of our culture. Friends meet and greet and there is much laughter. The singing of the old favourite hymns such as "Come ye thankful people come, bring the joys of harvest home" and "We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land" range out loud and clear across Kingston.

Order of Service

 Parts of the congregation with Evie, Beryl Evans, Sid Cooper, Sa and David, Jim Olson and Dolly

 The font, filled to overflowing with fruit, flowers and vegetables

 Dids and Ikey standing in the aisle and giving cheek ~ you're in church boys. Behave

 A view of the alter which doesn't clearly show up the harvest decoration

  and another of the seating with Podge at the front with Rod and Noeline

  Corn decorates the pews and David Gibson is visiting from Brisbane

 Fruit lines the front communal rail and blue and white agapantha lillies decorate the alter

 Peter Randall on the organ, playing for us just as his grandmother Edie Randall did for so many years

 Chief Minister giving the lesson

 Bishop Rob Forsyth reading his sermon, and what a great joy to see him again

 

 There is then a sale of the harvest produce out in the back lawn of the church, with all proceeds going to various Christian charities.

Home to Flagstaff for lunch and those who aren't enjoying church are enjoying playing in the beautiful Pacific on this glorious day

Two boats coming home from an early morning of fishing

Two more boats and a jet ski join in 

Dids has placed vases of roses he's brought in from the farm, throughout the lounge room

White November lillies beside his Nisbet photograph. No 2/6 of a very limited and exclusive edition

 An informal table set for lunch. It may not look much kiddies but believe me, it fed the masses

 John and Chester enjoying lunch

 Dad wondering what on earth he's eating

 Mrs Parkins ~ DON'T EAT THE FORK, DON'T EAT THE FORK

More farm roses, snug in the corner

 Rozzie ~ Take that camera and......It's Thanksgiving! Mind our words

 Michael ! Go away. That's all I got from him

 Dids is trying to suggest that, that's all he ate, but really I think he's bragging that he didn't bite the plate!

 Saz in the sunlight, enjoying  her own little joke

  

 Corinna counting Tzarn's toes to make sure they're all there. The next post will tell you why he's asleep!

 Dad again. Hah. The first ciggie after lunch. Yay

 Dakota's tied to the pot plant so that she doesn't run down to the jetty to help them clean fish 

 

A gorgeous bouquet on the sideboard. Can't see them very well, but masses of purple rose blooms

 Vonnie showing her prowess with the camera

 Michael se dun

 Vonnie looking lovingly at Tzarn. Then she sat on him. Then he almost spewed. Poor darling

 Karina keeping Dakota company

 Vonnie and Dad looking charming

 Michael walking the dog...

 ...as the sun slowly sets in the west.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone

William the Strong

One uponsen tine there was a cat called William. He was known as William the Strong. He was an R's of a cat !

School Spectacular

Our beautiful Island girls, the Baunti Dancers, were invited to  perform at the School Spectacular held at the Entertainment Centre, Sydney.  We heard that they went fabulously well. Here is a photo that we received back home, of the girls at the Finale.  Wael dan yorlyi! Wi daa praud 'yorlyi.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and a visit to Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island was honoured to welcome to Norfolk Island Secretary-General of the CPA, Dr William F. Shija, who has travelled here from London with his Executive Assistant Mrs Luseane Chesham. 

 

 

 Secretary-General admiring the views of Norfolk Island with Anson Bay in the background

 Hon Deputy Speaker Mr Lisle Snell, Mr Chris Magri past Minister and Hon Tim Sheridan, Minister for Community Services

 Guests to Norfolk Blue Restaurant to share a welcome lunch with the Secretary-General

 Meeting the Youth Assembly in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly, Kingston

 Secretary-General addressing the Youth Assembly

 Secretary-General receiving a gift from the Norfolk Island Central School from Miss Sophie Donahoe, Speaker

 Norfolk Island Youth Assembly

 Secretary-General on the steps of the Legislative Assembly of Norfolk Island,  at the Old Military Barracks, Kingston in the World Heritage area of Norfolk Island

 Outside the Legislative Assembly building

  Mr Keith Young, Acting Administrator

Guests enjoying the Secretary-General's speech

  Secretary-General addressing the guests at Government House

 Secretary-General, Madam Speaker and the Acting Administrator

 Mr Albert Buffett, President, Council of Elders and Mrs Chesham

 Mrs Marjie Christian and Mrs Jeanette Buffett

 Ms Rhonda Griffiths, Norfolk Island's representative for the Commonwealth Womens Parliamentarians

 Mrs Helen Young and Mrs Kim Nobbs

 Mrs Megan Magri and Hon Andre Nobbs, Minister for Tourism, Industry & Development

 Bec and Moochie

 Chief Minister, Hon David Buffett AM MLA and Mr David Evans

 Mr Bruce Taylor and Mrs Melissa Ward

 Sun setting across Kingston...

 ...and again from the verandah of Government House

 Albert, David and Robin

 Photo taken at the Norf;k Laengwij Conference

 Mrs Chesham with Anson Bay in the background

 and again, with the cliffs in the background

 Madam Speaker at the lunch for present and former Members

 Mrs Chesham in Kingston, with the two islands in the background

 A sunset over Kingston, but not as spectacular as we would have liked

 Secretary-General with Kingston in the background

 Secretary-General showing Mrs Chesham and I how to work the new fangled technology

 Mrs Chesham with Kingston in the background and...

...Secretary-General and Mrs Chesham.

Madam Speaker posted, in Your Parliament Your Voice, the following -

Whilst on island, the Secretary-General has had the opportunity to speak at a School Assembly; meet with our Youth Assembly in the Legislative Assembly Chamber; he has been a guest at a Government House reception held in his honour; addressed the Norfolk Language Conference with a moving speech on “Connecting Cultures” (“Connecting Cultures” is also the theme that was set for the CPA for 2012 by Her Majesty the Queen); he has met with current and former Members of the Legislative Assembly; had a working meeting with the Norfolk Island Branch of the CPA; enjoyed an Island Fish Fry and experienced more of our island culture watching our Baunti dancers perform in preparation for their participation soon in the Australian Schools Spectacular next week; had a tour of the Kingston & Arthurs Vale Historic Area with former KAVHA Manager Mr George (Puss) Anderson; met with the Museum Director Mrs Lisa Richards; joined members of the Pitcairn Descendants Society for lunch; toured our island and viewed the Cyclorama. 

It has been an honour for Norfolk Island to have the Secretary-General visit.  The CPA is Norfolk Island’s “window to the world”, and to be able to exchange such broad range of views with Secretary-General can only be beneficial to us, as well as showing him first hand not only our passion for our culture but also our passion for knowledge to continuously improve our legislature and show our enthusiasm to be involved with the CPA.