MY PHOTOS OF NORFOLK ISLAND

Me at the Ashburton Air Museum in New Zealand. A friend on Norfolk Island offered me a lift in his private 10 seater jet. We landed first at Keri Keri, a brand new international airport on the northern tip of NZ. I was told that I was the very first international visitor. Fame at last!  later we went to Christchurch, and after a very interesting trip to the air museum, it was back to NI.
I was even allowed to take the controls for a short spell.
Another tale to tell the grandchildren!


Huge magnificent tree, one of many.



Some of the beautiful coastal scenery around NI



The tomato thief caught red handed.One of the many feral cockerels and their numerous wives.



This is the beautiful St. Barnabas chapel which was built to commemorate the life and work of Bishop Patteson, martyred for the faith in his Melanesian diocese.
The money to build this was raised by friends and family in UK and NZ and the work was lovingly done by some of the Melanesian brothers whose headquarters was for many years the island.
This is top of the tourist attractions and one weekday while we were having an impromptu meeting in the church, a tour guide came in with a big group of tourists and asked us to get out!!

All Saints church in the capital, Kingston. This building was given to the descendants of the mutineers on the Bounty after the chapel they built on their arrival at Norfolk Island was destroyed in a gale. The few surviving mutineers and their wives and children, transformed through reading God's word on Pitcairn Island found new life and hope. Many of their descendants still live on Norfolk Island. They and the newcomers fill this church to overflowing at thanksgiving and harvest time. It holds over 500 and is the only time it is filled. (Except for when a notable funeral takes place as happened when I was there for the oldest resident of 104.)
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The bishop of South Sydney (which includes NI) paying his annual visit to the island . This is Bishop Robert Forsyth at the men's breakfast. The ladies had a tea party and the speaker was Margie Forsyth.
The church members are very faithful, numbers are not great as there are at least 6 churches for a population of 2200. Usually some of the tourists come and are warmly welcomed by the regulars.
There was great rejoicing when a youth pastor was appointed by one of the churches who all work together very well.

In this picture you see a portion of the vicarage roof and a plane coming in to land. The weather is obviously not good looking at the clouds and the angle of the tall tree. This makes the arrival even more hair raising. I do not think I have ever seen or heard planes come in as low as they do there. Of course, if the weather is too bad, they sometimes have to turn round and go back again, disappointing for everyone concerned and a waste of money. Fares are already expensive and  this cuts down on the number of tourists who think about coming

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We were fortunate enough to be on NI when they had the Royal Agricultural show. We were amazed at the different produce, black carrots for example as well as unusual fruits. The baking section was magnificent as was the arts and crafts. Island people often have to be very resourceful. Afterwards they auctioned off large quantities of food and Kathryn bid for vegetables for the dinner party we were planning at the vicarage for church members. Normally vegies have to  come on the plane and are very expensive as is much food there.

A solitary Norfolk Pine silhouetted against the evening sky. The pine tree is the symbol of the island and features boldly on their flag.

Captain Cook discovered this island around the time he visited Australia, It was uninhabited and when he saw the pine trees he thought they would be suitable as masts for the British navy. They did not turn out to be as suitable as he had hoped.

The spot where Captain Cook landed is now a beautiful cared for tourist attraction where you can picnic and some people even have wedding ceremonies there.

It is just one of the many delights and attractions of the place I spent a very happy 6 months.