Greg Quintal and his grand-daughter Jemima
That Norfolk Island, despite its reliance on welcome tourism and other economic opportunities, is first and foremost the home of its people is what this community is all about. In fact, we place this essential phrase - "Norfolk is first and foremost the home of its residents" - on every important development document to enshrine that principle in our planning for our future.
Almost half of our community are descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their descendants of Pitcairn Island who arrived on Norfolk Island on 8 June 1856. Norfolk Island celebrates that arrival every year with "Bounty Day" or "Anniversary Day" on the 8th of June. It is a full day's activity which starts with a re-enactment of the arrival in the morning, through to a full scale Ball at the Rawson Hall that night. In earlier days, many used to dress in naval uniforms for the day, but now most dress in period costume suitable to the era. After the landing re-enactment, a march takes place to the Cenotaph, the cemetery and to Government House for the judging of the best dressed family, then to the prison compound for lunch. That night, the Rawson Hall is the venue for the the Bounty Ball.
Some members of our community are also descendants of the First Fleet of British colonists who arrived in Sydney and on Norfolk in 1788. Some of our residents may even possibly be descendants from the Polynesian settlers who landed here centuries earlier.
There were 1763 persons living on Norfolk Island as of the last Census in 1996, including 1282 Permanent Residents and 188 General Entry Permit holders. It is interesting to note though, that almost 10% of the population is off the Island at any given time on business or pleasure.
The community also hosts over 38,000 tourists each year, many of them repeat visitors who come to share in the island's great beauty and way-of-life.
We are all lucky to live here. Our young are loved and our elders still respected.
Greg Quintal, OBE, the man pictured in the photograph above, a sixth-generation direct descendant of mutineer, Matthew Quintal, is a farmer and fisherman, a former Councillor and the Patron of the Norfolk Island Museums. He is also a great storyteller and a loyal friend. Greg embodies some of the finest qualities of our community which he will no doubt share with his grand-daughter, Jemima.
(This is a contributed article and the facts are current at 2001)