A Letter from the Elders of Norfolk Island
to the Prime Minister of Australia

The following is a copy of a letter I composed on behalf of the elders of the Norfolk Island community, addressed to The Honourable Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia and printed in The Norfolk Islander newspaper on 17 January, 2009.  It is a plea for the well-being of the Norfolk Island people and contained the signatures of 76% of our community born in or before 1928 and of Pitcairn Island-descent.  The letter was read to the Legislative Assembly by The Hon Lisle Snell, Chief Minister of the Government of Norfolk Island, on 11 June, 2014.

The letter reads:

The Honourable Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister

Canberra

Dear Prime Minister Rudd,
 

When our people arrived on Norfolk Island en masse from Pitcairn Island on June 8, 1856, it was with the understanding that this island would become our new home.  A Great Seal was issued for the new Crown Colony of Norfolk Island by Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, with the name of Pitcairn Island and a ship landing amidst Norfolk Island pines to commemorate this great gift to the Pitcairn people. On that day, Pitcairn Islanders became Norfolk Islanders. This island has been our home ever since.
 

We, the undersigned, representing the majority of the island elders of our community, welcome the ensuing dialogue between the Australian government and our elected officials regarding improving the relationship between the Commonwealth and Norfolk Island.  We are Australian citizens and are grateful for the protections that bestows.  But as the elders, we are also concerned at what these talks may hold for the future of the Norfolk people. 

As your government proceeds to examine our best interests, we ask you to keep in mind these two related questions: when the new conditions are fully realised, will we as a people still exist and will Norfolk Island continue to be our home?  It would be to everyone’s eternal shame if the answer were “no”.

Very humbly yours,
 

William “Pumpa” Adams, Marie Bailey, Lorna Christian, Owen Evans, Peggy Evans, Edith Mack, Baker “Foxy” McCoy, Rae “Tiny” Olsen, Doreen Olsson, Jim Olsson, Greg Quintal, H.J. “Jackie Ralph” Quintal, Mary Selby, Audrey Scott.




The Greal Seal of Norfolk Island