The Norfolk ISLANDER The World of Norfolk’s Community Newspaper for more than 45 Years FOUNDED 1965 Successors to - The Norfolk Island Pioneer c. 1885 The Weekly News c 1932 : The Norfolk Island Monthly News c. 1933 The N.I. Times c. 1935 : Norfolk Island Weekly c. 1943 : N.I.N.E. c. 1949 : W.I.N. c. 1951 : Norfolk News c. 1965 Volume 47, No. 21 SATURDAY, 23rd JUNE 2012 Price $2.75 incl GST Marine Safety Legislation Update Minister for Tourism, Industry and Development, Hon Andre Nobbs is pleased to advise that the Marine Safety Working Group met last week to approve the final steps in the preparation of the Marine Safety Legislation Drafting Instructions. It is then to be finally approved by me and forwarded to Legislative Counsel to draft the Norfolk Island Marine Safety Bill. The Working Group is also supportive of a radio information exchange regarding the work that has been carried out to date and the practical outcomes being sought. “Following this process I am hopeful that the Bill will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly at the August meeting of the Parliament, following upon which Members of Parliament, along with interested members of the local community will have further opportunity to have input prior to the Bill passing in the Parliament and becoming Law,” the Minister advised. “During the past eight months I have tried to Welcome to the facilitate opportunities for local stakeholders and interested members of the local community to have Wonderful World of input into the preparation of this Bill. I congratulate all Norfolk Island Postal History those people who have taken the opportunity and thank Being the second oldest British settlement in them for their contribution. It is through this kind of the Pacific Ocean, Norfolk Island has a number consultative process that robust laws are both developed of Museums which house collections of historical and adopted. I now look forward to bringing the Bill artefacts from 1788 to more recent times. into the Parliament for an informed and constructive While they might not attract the same degree of debate,” Mr Nobbs said. study, the postage stamps and postal history of Norfolk “I also advise that I have received further information Island which began with the second penal settlement from the Temperate East Marine Conservation - Marine organised on the island between 1824 and 1855 are Division in conjunction with the recent release by an equally important part of the Island’s history. The the Australian Minister Tony Burke of the Australian first post office opened in 1832. Unfortunately, these (continued overleaf). (continued overleaf). P&R Groceries Pinnacles Takeaways Phone 23110 Open Early to Late! Phone 23474 (2FISH) Sunday—Wednesday to 9pm Open 7 nights, 4.30pm –8.30pm Thursday to Saturday to 10pm! Burgers Fish Chips Calamari Prawns From the Administrator of • Mr Jeremy Wood who brings IT expertise and Norfolk Island will assist in developing and implementing a cohesive On Friday 22nd June the newly appointed Official IT strategy. Secretary Mr. Keith Young and his wife Helen arrive A process to select a CBT member with legal on the Island. Keith and Helen are coming from the services expertise is being undertaken. small close community of Bungendore in New South The CBT is a key enabler in implementing the Wales. recommendations in the Norfolk Island Public Service Prior to accepting the position of Official Secretary Review 2011. The review found that the Norfolk Island to the Administrator Mr. Young was Director of the Administration (NIA) does not have the capability to National Archives of Australia. effectively implement a substantial change program. “As a member of the interviewing panel I believe It is expected that the community will benefit from that our appointment of Keith will be a great asset a targeted program of expert support to key NIA to the Office of the Administrator and the people of managers to improve skills, systems and processes to Norfolk Island,” said the Administrator. deliver quality public services. Mr. Young is not the only newly arrived Australian “Members of the CBT will not be performing the Government public servant, as members of the work of the NIA staff, but will provide guidance and Capacity Building Team (CBT) arrived earlier this coaching in better public sector practice,” said the month. They are: Administrator. • Ms Lesley Warren who will provide access to “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank expertise in public sector finance which will enable Mr. Kenton Godfrey who has been Acting Official the Norfolk Island Public Service to provide good Secretary for the past two months. Mr. Godfrey’s time financial and policy advice as well as effective services on the Island will benefit his role of Director of the to the Norfolk Island Government and community. Norfolk Island Section as he leaves with firsthand This capacity is being developed in line with the experience of the issues, problems and challenges new financial framework being implemented by the presently confronting this community.” Commonwealth Financial Officer, Ms Alison Savary. Neil Pope • Ms Robyn Gillies who will provide access Administrator to public sector human resources and organisational 22 June, 2012 development expertise; and SATURDAY Partly cloudy. Chance of a brief late shower. SUNDAY Cloudy. A few showers, easing. NW winds 10/15 N/NE winds 10/15 knots becoming N/NW later in the day. knots ahead of a S/SW wind change 10/20 knots in the Slight seas on a low SW’ly swell. afternoon. Precis: Partly cloudy. Min 15 Max 20. Precis. A few showers, easing. Min: 16 Max: 20. POPULATION STATISTICS - PEOPLE ON ISLAND FOR WEEK ENDING RESIDENTS GEP TEP OTHER TOURISTS TOTAL 27th Janaury 2012 1333 174 284 17 450 2258 NO DATA AVAILABLE DUE TO COMPUTER ISSUES AT IMMIGRATION Welcome to the Wonderful World of Norfolk “There has been a zone extension of 120 kms East Island Postal History - contiued. of Norfolk Island which commences just below the 29 degree latitude and, I’m advised, to be specifically a stamps and the art work used in their design, have, as zone for the protection of bottom of the sea habitat. far as we know gone for ever. This extension will continue to allow top of the ocean The first postage stamps used here were sent by fishing activities,” Mr. Nobbs advised. Van Diemen’s Land, the colony administratively There will be a further opportunity for comment responsible for the settlement. Decided in late 1853, on this Final Proposal by interested organisations and the first stamps figuring Queen Victoria, worth sixteen individuals. The Australian Government will advertise pounds, travelled on the ‘Lady Franklin’. Part of them the time frame for the next 60 day consultation period were lost when the prisoners aboard the ship mutinied. in the next few weeks. The second packet of stamps arrived finally to Norfolk André Nobbs and they were used between July 1854 and May 1855, Minister for Tourism, Industry and Development when the penal colony was closed and all people evacuated. News from… In 1914, Norfolk, then an external territory of Australia, asked for its own postage stamps in 1923, and again in 1937. The latter was accepted and the first issue was previewed for 1940. The issue was cancelled when World War II began. They were later destroyed, but some stolen stamps and sheets that reached the philatelic market. ��������� ����������� ��� ��������� ����������� ����������� Norfolk Island assumed full control of its postal ������ �������������������� �������������������� affairs along with the first issue of Norfolk Island ������� ��� ���������� �� ������� ����� �� stamps on 10th June 1947. Since then the territory ���������������� �� ��� ������������ �� ��������� has had complete control and responsibility for its New Location for CIRCA’s stamp issues. Designs are predominantly of island Community Information and Resource Centre interest and include convict heritage, Pitcairn heritage, Norf’k CIRCA Inc has now reopened the Community Information & tourism, local fauna and flora and special events. Resource Centre in our new premises next to Beach La Mer (previously known as Crackers). CIRCA is jointly sharing the However, on Friday, 22nd June in a little shop tucked premises with the new Philatelic Gallery & Retail shop. away between “Billabong” and “The Scottish Shop” I was introduced to the just opened (for a 3 month trial The Gallery provides a public face for the Philatelic Bureau with the intention of developing a Philatelic Museum to showcase Norfolk period) the Norfolk Island Philatelic Art Museum. Island’s philatelic history back to 1947, while allowing collectors and According to spokeswoman Jeanette Buffett, the souvenir hunters to purchase stamps and other philatelic related Museum is something that the Postal staff had wanted material. for years and they had worked like beavers to get it Each month the Gallery will display a new themed collection of ready. philatelic artwork. The collections currently being showcased include “Because”, as she said “a lot of the art work for the original artwork from the Whales Series, The Early Pitcairners on Norfolk Island, Seabirds, Royalty, Seashells and the building of the stamps, which no one can see, goes right back to the Resolution. 1947”, the date when the first issue of Norfolk Island stamps were issued. CIRCA’s Community Information & Resource Centre “Because stamp collecting is a dying art, the whole continues to provide community based services, assistance and resources to the Norfolk Island community, including - idea was to try and create interest to show people - Free community Workshops and Seminars exactly how stamps are made and the original art work - Assistance with Job Applications. on which the stamps were based”. - The provision to community of Information & Resources. Jeanette said that one of her greatest wishes was to - An internet hotspot and kiosk to facilitate online info access.