CHILDREN OF THE BOUNTY

The really big and special day of the year on Norfolk Island is Bounty Day, or Anniversary Day as it is sometimes called. This is on June 8th, and it is the day when we commemorate and re-enact the landing of 193 of our forbears when they arrived from Pitcairn in 1856.
On Tuesday morning Charles and William came up early in their Bounty dress-up gear. The little fellow had a bit if a tumble and is not too happy in this picture.

But you can't keep him down for long, and he soon cheered up!

 

Meanwhile, out at Buck's Point, the McRitchie kids had been very excited getting ready for the best day of the year. It was little Jasper's very first Bounty Day!!

 

Everyone gathered down  at the Pier at Kingston, and got ready for the march. It is a fairly long walk, and Dad's shoulders come in handy!

All the Pitcairn style Bounty hats are brought out and worn with pride by young and old.

One great tradition on Bounty Day is rolling down the hill after the morning tea at Government House.

 

For the past few years, we have "picnicked" at home, and invite family and friends and workmates (and their friends and family) to join us. It is all about sharing and togetherness. Nearly ninety people turned up at Devon to celebrate with us.

We were well prepared with tables and chairs, but we did need to find a fifth large table for all the food people brought!

Baby Caleb is not ready for Bounty food yet.

But Anna, Amy, Leilani and Will were enjoying their lunch!

And Cameron lets his Dad know what he wants for sweets.

After lunch some of the littlies thought they would shake it all down on the Jumping Castle.

And the sandpit, first put in place for William's birthday in March, was well used.

One of the best parts of Bounty Day for me is to see the kids enjoy being with each other, and entertaining themselves in the old-fashioned way, without TV, computers and electronic games.

All sorts of equipment came out - bats, balls, skipping ropes, and these things in the picture, which are evidently less menacing than they look!

At one stage, a ball became wedged right at the top of a very tall palm tree. Someone found some blades, which were attached to Joel's shoes with lengths of string.

Joel's job was to first remove the tin rat-guard so someone could climb above it.

Then Darren attempted to reach the top. He was unsuccessful, but it was a good try!

And it was great entertainment for everyone.

Then Ernie - shown at the left of the picture above - did what is second nature for someone from Fiji, and shinned up the tree quite effortlessly to retrieve the ball - but I missed getting a picture.

Now the kids decided to use the rope for skipping, and even some grown-ups joined in.

Meanwhile, in the dining room, Rob entertained lots of us with his skillful playing on our piano. Rob and Renee are on their third visit from Townsville, and are both fine musicians. Rob has been delighting us by playing our beautiful church organ for us.

It was well after fivethat the last people left. By then it was getting dark and rather cool. We were so appreciative of all the people who helped wash-up and clean-up.

In the evening was our famous "Bounty Ball".

Schoolchildren open the Ball with the singing of traditional Norfolk/Pitcairn songs.

The children have been practising their dancing for weeks. There are competitions in age groups, and then they join the adults in the Barn Dance.

But it had been a long day for William, and he was already asleep!

And what a beautiful day it was!