Norfolk Island Bush Poetry, History and Country Music Tour with Jim Haynes, 2011

The azure Pacific Ocean stretches from the greenness of Norfolk Island shores, around and beyond Nepean and Phillip Islands and away to the horizon. From Queen Elizabeth Lookout we are overlooking the settlement of Kingston below.  Even from a distance the colonial, convict origins are evident, with neat rows of houses and high cream stone enclosing walls. It was Friday, 13th May and in brilliant sunshine, we on Jim Haynes’ tour are getting our first look around picturesque Norfolk Island.  Most of our 20 strong contingent had arrived by 737 from Sydney the previous evening along with the Ellems, from Brisbane earlier in the day, and settled into our accommodation at Hillcrest Resort for the week.

This half day ‘Pinetree’ tour introduced us to the delights of Norfolk, the landscape, history, settlements, legends, shopping and people, both past and present, and whetted our appetite to explore further.  Later, relaxing in comfortable armchairs we enjoyed a concert of poetry and song from Jim, in his trademark yellow suit, along with poems from Noel and Father John O’Brien.

The following days were full of interest and activity.  Jokes and poems concluded brekkie every morning ensuring we were all energised and in good spirit for the day.  Two mornings of poetry workshops, in performance and writing skills, with Jim and Noel as tutors were fantastically informative, fun and rewarding.

Sunday evening saw us with drink in hand jostling to get a spot in Ferny Lane Theatre to “Meet and Greet” the Country Music performers newly arrived for the Festival.  It was also my birthday and I was suitably cheered through the day and later surprised with a cake and supper party back at Hillcrest.

We all attended three Country Music Concerts: the New Zealand Showcase, Australian Showcase (featuring Gina Jeffreys) and the Trans Tasman Awards all of which were toe tapping and engaging. Jim’s appearances with poems, jokes and songs had the audience rolling in the aisles. Norfolk Islanders and visitors now know the location of  Wheelabarrowback, how Cheryl went feral and how much there is to watch on TV. It was all great fun.

Other highlights included ‘Wonderland by Night’ (where poetry  from local Archie Bigg came to life), ‘History in the Making’, ‘Island Fish Fry’, Cyclorama, golf, shopping, eating and drinking while a poem or joke was never far away!

Invited by Jason Ellem, (nephew of Barry) who is currently teaching on Norfolk, to visit the school Noel, Cay, Barry and I went along and presented some poems.  The upturned faces of the children showed them listening with enjoyment and they joined in with enthusiasm.  Of course Noel’s “Bush Animals’ Band” was a hit with both the students and staff.  It was fascinating to realise that many of these students are descendants of the Bounty mutineers and to learn of the custom of Bounty Day.  “Wataweih yorly” (Hello, how are you) in the Norf’k language from Pitcairn Island was the greeting we received at school and elsewhere on the island.

Norfolk Island was a real discovery for us first timers and we were wonderfully entertained by Jim and Noel and the other poet performers. Too soon we found ourselves seated at the airport awaiting our wings to return to the big island.  A huge ‘ thank you’ to Jim, Noel and Ann for their company on this excellent week away in such a fascinating place and for everyone’s companionship.               

 Jacqui Warnock