to Norfolk

Tree of knowledge may return to Norfolk

From Merval Hoare, On

Norfolk Island.

One result of the giant pub

licity campaign currently under

way to sell Norfolk Island to tourists is that a “tree of know ledge” may once more stand to give locals the latest news.

One of the Sydney PR men selling Norfolk, Mr. John Fuller, suggests putting the tree in the Burnt Pine area to replace the old one which once stood on Pine Avenue, and had a notice board fixed to it carrying notices of general interest. This land mark was cut down with the rest of the avenue to make room for the air strip.

Mrs. Cherie Cameron, who owns a group of tourist shops in Burnt Pine, has offered a small piece of land in front of her stores for the erection of a new knowledge tree, complete with notice board and up-to-the minute information for the visitor.

But the new tree (which if it were a living tree would be out of place in Burnt Pine, an area almost devoid of natural beauty) is to be something that will harmonise with the locality and its name—a burnt pine.

What more fitting emblem for Norfolk Island’s shopping centre, lately described as “a ridge that has been given over to commercial ribbon development of horrendous ugliness?”

Not all in favour

The name Burnt Pine has only in very recent years become attached to its present locality; it formerly referred to a private property some distance away on the Mt. Pitt Road.

And the original Tree of Knowledge was a mile or so away from the pro posed new site. The local tourist board has set up a sub-committee to carry out the burnt tree project.

But not everyone on Norfolk is panting for a big increase in the number of tourists. Some people believe that tourism is a very shaky industry to base the island’s economy on. Others think that too many tourists will spoil the island and they might well be right.

Clear away a few hundred more

acres for commercial development and housing; put another thousand motor vehicles on the roads and several hundred more visitors on the four tiny beaches, and the island may no longer appeal to those who genuinely want to get away from it all.

It would be just another island resort, no worse than many others and doubtless still better than some, but not the far-away peaceful place the promoters would like you to be lieve.

Yesterday, life on Norfolk was un hurried and unsophisticated and had a definite appeal. The tourist board seems to have overlooked the fact that the “island atmosphere” is fast disappearing and if intensive adver tising results in a big influx of visitors, one of the very things that attract a number of tourists will be destroyed.

'It can't happen here'

“It can’t happen here” is the argu ment put forward by some of those concerned with tourist promotion.

“We haven’t a harbour and the air services are not geared up to a mighty influx of visitors.”

This certainly is the case today but who can foretell the situation tomorrow?

Keeping a watchful eye (one hopes) on these views are the two public relations companies conducting the Norfolk advertising campaign by TV, radio and the Press. They are Etcetera, a Sydney based firm and Hutchinson Public Relations Ltd. of Auckland, who will advertise in their respective countries. Included in the promotion is a visit by an ABC tele vision crew next year to film a Nor folk documentary for “This Day To night”.

Museum For Norfolk Island

A museum is expected to be formally opened on Norfolk Island early next year to celebrate the Cook bi-centenary. The Norfolk Island Historical Society has been collecting items of interest from the people and has raised over S A 1,000 towards fitting the museum out in one of the early Kingston buildings.

A wide range of convict era and Pitcairn artifacts have been gathered together and a collection of Indo- Pacific shells has been donated; the island’s flora and fauna society is also to arrange a display.

Members of the Norfolk Island Historical Society have also been excavating in the old Kingston cemetery to classify tombstones, many completely forgotten, and of great historical interest.