Chasing the Light

Dear Editor,

I was fortunate enough to be able to get into the Ferny Lane Theatre to watch the final film production by Ray, Ken, and Andrew titled Chasing the Light. It was a magnificent film with incredible narration, filming and photography. Chasing the Light …. Wow what a spectacular feature and similarly just amazing footage. The inclusion of still photography in the film was brilliant. Norfolk Island is one of God’s most remarkable creations. I just wanted to leave the theatre and go buy a new camera then I remembered I am hopeless with any sort of camera.

Primarily there was a dichotomy of the message from Ken Duncan (who is professionally acknowledged) who said that our connection to land is our most important thing, but then he is aware that this film and his photography are going to create a rush of people to Norfolk who want to live here. He spoke of the world being a crazy place and that Norfolk offered a haven, and that in a way it was our responsibility to keep it that way for these people who visit….he meant well, but there was something missing. The film included young people taking about how special and unique Norfolk is, and how the beaches were uncrowded and that Bumboras was a secret spot….but the reality is that this kind of exposure, this ‘dream like’ quality of Norfolk, where nothing like food shortages, waste issues, water security, land security, cultural safety are considered - means that well-off people from offshore will snap up the last of the houses on the market, house prices will continue to swell, Norfolk’s resources will continue to be stretched, only the rich will be able to live on Norfolk and the human (real) Norfolk Islander will continue to become a smaller minority….and call me a conspiracy theorist - but I think this is part of the plan. To either squeeze us Norfolk Islanders out or to forget our heritage and culture and just be part of Australia. These young people who were used to ‘pimp’ this image of Norfolk out to the rest of the world - in reality they will not be able to afford to buy land or property on Norfolk very soon or afford to live here. It will become a rich Australian Mecca.

Just like what has happened to Byron Bay (NSW) and other communities that have been pitched with this same dream-like wonder. A big chunk of funding came from the Department of Infrastructure. Hmm. Where is Norfolk’s population cap? Where is our protection of Norfolk’s land? We don’t even know how many people live here now. There are no rentals for locals, no rental for workers, and the local hard working people are being denied bank loans to buy property (I have examples of this disturbing information). This conflicting message is the ‘elephant in the room’ for me. The film clearly stated that Norfolk was a part of Australia, and they edited Gaye Evans’ depiction of the Norfolk language to only speak of the male European influences. There was deliberately no speak of our Pitcairn/Polynesian heritage and that we were culturally distinct from Australia. It was implied through the dancing and the language that we had some unique heritage, but only in the way that it could be used as tourism fodder - there was definitely no reference to our Pitcairn roots, other than a quick 2 second recap by Dids Evans. The film focused on how inclusive the Norfolk people were, painting a picture that everyone is invited to live on Norfolk in complete peace with the Norfolk people. People aren’t looking for a holiday these days as much as they are looking for a lifestyle change. As Ken Duncan said, the world is going crazy and Norfolk is a refuge. He is right, though we have no protections in place. Also, it irked me that they referred to Phillip Island as being a mix of the Aussie outback and the Pacific, like a perfect mix for Aussie’s to play in. Firstly, Phillip Island is a perfect example of how a beautiful island was stripped of its natural resources due to poor management. It’s not naturally in this ‘desert’ state….it’s because the colonial mindset is to consume resources without looking into the future or the land’s sustainability. It’s about raping the land for immediate gain. So…the film depicts Norfolk as a land of bounty, when in reality there are significant food shortages and waste issues and many locals are holding onto their own lands with their fingernails.

The ‘Australia-washing’ and the invitation to all to play/live on Norfolk because it is endlessly abundant, made me feel uncomfortable. Another person made a good point in that this type of tourism advertising was appropriate for ‘peace time’, but not for the current Norfolk Island conditions. The film was stunning, the locals were wonderful, Ray Martin and Ken Duncan and cameraman Andrew seem to be lovely well-meaning men and the film was a good all-rounder….I did enjoy those elements. I had a lot of mixed emotions driving home from Ferny Lane Theatre! The bottom line for me is that unless Norfolk has a population strategy put into effect ASAP there will be no generational future for Norfolk Islanders. The film has been purchased by SBS and its’ first showing is April 2022. It is important that any promotion of Norfolk Island is to primarily highlight the Norfolk Island people and to tell the real roots story of Norfolk Islanders not just for tourism motivations. Chasing the Light on a barren island in the middle of nowhere with no population will never be filmed – the island is still beautiful. The Norfolk Islanders are a bright light and they are naturally beaming with love and beauty of the Island they were given as a new indigenous owner and caretaker. Regrettably I have formed an opinion that the brief to Ray Martin was to ignore the Pitcairn/Norfolk descendant history and culture and that the Commonwealth bureaucrats just do not get the plight of Norfolk Islanders nor do they care.

Tet Grube