October - Dem tull

UCKLUN TULL UN DEM TULL
Pitcairn
News
Volume 6 No 7 October 2012
Foggy view from Taro Ground towards Palwa Valley
Kari on Pitcairn tull: We have had a wet month, lots of rain
and muddy roads. Good for the water tanks and for the
gardens, which have produced a lot of cabbages, lettuce,
carrots, beans and other vegetables. Pumpkins have had a
revival, stray seeds creating huge areas of pumpkin vines
and big fruits, weather conditions must have been
exceptionally favourable for pumpkins.
The French Navy ship “Arago” stopped for a two day visit,
and the whales have been hanging around our coast for
months. Otherwise no visitors, we haven’t even seen a
passing ship. Claymore will be back here in middle
November – our “Christmas” ship. Since March we have only
had the three monthly Claymore visits, plus now “Arago”,
and two friendly captains decided to stop their ships for
several hours some months back, one crew even coming
ashore to visit, . A very lean year for ships’ visits, but the
few visits mean all the more to us in our isolation.
But another ship did not make it, - the “Bounty” replica
made for the 1962 Mutiny on the Bounty movie sank in
towering waves as the tropical storm Sandy was
approaching the US east coast on the morning of October
3rd. A Coast Guard rescued 15 crewmembers from the
liferaft, but the captain and one female crewmember lost
their lives.
The men have been busy doing paid labour most days of the
month, some was restoration after the storm and flooding
we had in February, and some was rebuilding the old hostel,
now called “the Lodge”.
Fog in the hills: Most days through October
we noticed fog hanging around the hilltops,
giving warning of another rainy spell. There
always seemed to be moisture in the air, and
showers were frequent. Big clouds of fog
flew up the valley here at Up Har Cut, and in
over land, covering the highest ridges and
hills. To the right: Palwa Valley covered in
fog.
George Warren, son of Tommy and Kath,
died early morning of 16th October by a
massive heart attack.
George was
grandson of Christy, and greatgrandson of
George Warren – navigator of the trading
vessels, also the “Messenger”, which
Pitcairners operated about a hundred years
ago – and Lily (Dem Tull May 2008 and
March 2011). George was born in New
Zealand and lived there all his life. He will
be missed by his large family and the
Pitcairn community in New Zealand.
Below: Pitcairn kids - a scary crowd on
Halloween.
Jayden Warren Peu celebrated his 14th
birthday with a big dinner at the Square on
the 11th. In November he will travel to New
Zealand to attend Longburn College – “I will
be gone for four years”, he announced with
a big smile, excited about the prospect of
joining up with his older brother Ralph at
Longburn, and also seeing other relatives
out there in the big outside world. Good
luck to both Ralph and Jayden!!!
”The Pitcairn Philosophical Society” as they call
themselves, sharing tall stories and solving the world’s
problems around the kitchen table at least once a week
– Pawl, Kean, Dennis and Brian.
On spa pools: “Naaa, spa pool es beak!” (Spa pools are unhygienic)
On the rat problem: “ I had million rats ontop har ceiling, Every night I
listen to them playing cricket up there - hem ket (cat) too lazy, so I tek
(took) one handful of rat poison sling (threw) it ontop har ceiling. Dem
nort se play crcket again!” (They haven’t played cricket again)
On garden produce: “I se send for one ladder tall ‘nuff for I pick hem
cowpeas downyenna. And one derrick fer leff my cucumber orn har
trailer get it home before roll down har main road, buss et up.”
(I sent for a ladder tall enough to pick my cowpeas (beans) and a
derrick to lift my cucumbers onto the trailer to take home incase they
fall on the road and break the road.) THEY ARE BOASTING ABOUT THE SIZE
OF THEIR BEANS (COWPEAS) AND CUCUMBERS. Tall stories or dreams?
The new Lodge:
The “old hostel” next to the government hostel, built sometime in the 1960s, was demolished
by our men and their gargantuan machines, then rebuilt during most of September and October. In days gone by, it
was only used very occasionally, but the last ten years it has been the permanent abode for the British and New
Zealand policemen, then for the social workers.
Shopping day in Bob’s Valley on 9th October:
Mattresses and beds, bedding, curtains and some kitchen equipment was
sold off by tender, and we gladly bid for second hand stuff, on display at
the two verandas in the prison in Bob’s Valley. It was from all the
government houses, where prison warders, policemen and social workers
had their accommodation, but which now has been refitted with new
equipment. The prison built in 2003-2005 has been sitting empty for
almost four years, when the last inmate left after seven months alone
inside.
These birds left, were
observed in the main road
and up Jim’s Ground for
several days, they were
walking around, did not
seem afraid of us or the
bikes. We have no idea
what kind of birds they
were, - a very welcome
distraction.
Approach to HMPP from down har Park
and the mission house.
Whales:
A female with a
newborn calf was observed a
while ago, and mother and calf
are still around, with at least one
more of the species. By day and
by night we can hear them out
there, - playing, blowing and
slapping their tails, which sounds
like distant gunshots.
Visit of the French Navy patrol ship “Arago” 18th to 20th October
All the crew of 35 came ashore on either day, and some spent the night ashore with locals. Language was no problem, and
everybody had a great time. There was trading stalls at The Square with fish and chips to be bought from the local
entrepreneur Dave, and in the evening we had a fish fry and a huge spread down the Landing, sponsored by the community.
Friday night the French reciprocated, hosting a barbecue at the Square, with huge Tbone-steaks, sausages and drinks, plus
music, singing and dancing. An immensely popular visit, a break in our monotonus routine, new faces and new things to talk
about
Mayor Mike and the Arago captain
Fish fry at the Landing
Trading stalls at the Square.
Smiling French chefs
cooking our dinner at the
Square.
Guitars, ukulele, spoons and lusty singing
provided great entertainment. Islanders and
Arago crew
THE BOUNTY
Most of you with an interest in Pitcairn will have seen
the news of the loss of one of the replica Bounty’s in
the great storm “Sandy”. The Captain was lost and a
crew member associated with Norfolk Island was
unable to be revived. A sad tragedy. There is only one
remaining replica, the one built in Whangarei, New
Zealand. Our historian, Tim will be writing a “Hall of
Fame” article on The Bounty and will include some
history on the three Replicas and their fate or current
status.
From our Tourist Department:
“Getting to Pitcairn Island, one of the most isolated, inhabited islands in the world takes some planning. But, that’s
what makes the journey to the home of the descendants of the HMAV Bounty mutineers such a really remarkable
adventure.
With this in mind Pitcairn Islands Tourism staff work very closely with almost every visitor to their islands, sometimes for
many months before arrival, to ensure that their trip is as relaxed and laid back as possible. “Assisting with everything
from travel tips, reservations, accommodation, activities, tours and special needs is all part of the Pitcairn experience, ”
says busy Tourism Coordinator Heather Menzies, “Pitcairners completely understand what it takes to get here and that
understanding guides our interaction with everyone of our clients. Right from that very first tentative travel enquiry
through to escorting departing guests out in the Longboat to board the Claymore II for their return voyage to
Mangareva, you‘ll find there will always be Pitcairn Tourism team member close at hand. Visitors get to know us well
before arrival and it does makes all the difference in terms of their overall travel experience because Pitcairn really is a
very long way from home for most.”
Top from left: Charlene Warren-Peu, Carol
Warren, Darralyn Griffiths, Heather
Menzies Tourism Co-Ordinator, Wayne
Peu, Melva Evans
The photo is of ucklun and the visitors from The Arago.
DEM TULL HALL OF FAME: HATTIE ANDRE
BY Timothy Young
The presence of Seventh-Day Adventists on Pitcairn has been
noticeable for over a century. Indeed, the Hall of Fame has already
inducted the Adventist missionary John I. Tay as the first nonPitcairner. However, there have been more, and possibly one of the
most memorable of the Adventists who had an impact on Pitcairn
was Hattie Andre.
Hattie Andre was born in 1865. She trained at Battle Creek College
and graduated with a degree in 1892. Among her many skills was
craftwork and cooking, which would serve her well in the years
ahead.
In 1893, Hattie sailed to Pitcairn Island aboard the missionary ship
Pitcairn, on its second voyage there. With her were other Adventist
missionaries.
Portrait of Hattie
As soon as she was on Pitcairn, Hattie organized a school in Adamstown in the place known as “Shady Nook.”
Pitcairn had a need for a trained teacher, and people enthusiastically helped her as best they could. In April,
1893, Hattie's school opened at Shady Nook, and she was flooded with students, ranging in years 14 to 39. A
local, ROsalind Amelia Young, taught the younger children.
Though she taught many things at the school, she was also actively involved in the community, and contributed
her knowledge of woodwork and basket weaving to the Pitcairners, for the purpose of selling their products to
visiting ships. She also gave lectures on health and clean living. However, the most prominent thing she taught
was to do dry leaf painting (she is credited as the first one on Pitcairn to do so, and there is no indication that it
was done before that). The leaves of the Bauhinia Monandra were dried, and various designs were painted on
them. These came to be known by the Pitcairners as “Hattie Leaves, ” and a certain style of skirt on the island
was also named after her.
It was also in 1893, that the ship Bowden wrecked on Oeno Island. Unfortunately, the sailors passed on typhus
to the community, and almost all of the locals came down with the deadly disease. Hattie herself was
unscathed, and worked hard to tend to the ailing people and the crippled community. Eventually, 12 Pitcairn
people died from the disease. As a result of the typhus, the Pitcairners began to heed the healthy living Hattie
had preached to them, and the community's living standards changed for the better.
The popularity of Andre's school was heard of outside the island, and the trader called Schmidt on Mangareva
sent his three children (two sons and a daughter) to the school. The daughter, Della, eventually married Arthur
Young and had children.
Hattie eventually left Pitcairn, leaving behind a community that was starting t grow thanks to her efforts. Sadly,
a murder on Pitcairn in 1897 discontinued a lot of the growth that had started, and the school at Shady Nook
was virtually abandoned. However, after a while, it was shown that a lot of her influence was alive and well,
especially in island crafts, and especially in the painting of the Hattie Leaf.
Following her departure from Pitcairn, Andre returned to the United States and worked at Oakwood College. In
1899 she was invited by Ellen G. White to work at Australasian Missionary College (modern Avondale
College) in Australia.
Andre worked at Australasian Missionary College from 1900 till 1908, and following this she returned to the
United States and worked at Pacific Union College (currently the home of the “Pitcairn Island Study Centre”) as
dean of women. She left this job in 1920 to care for her ailing mother, and formally retired in 1929.
Continuing to remain active despite retirement, Andre finally passed away in 1952. Though she has many
legacies left behind, to Pitcairn she left many, not least the Hattie Leaf, which is a name used to this day.
My thanks go to Kari Young for a lot of the information on Hattie's time on Pitcairn, and Anders Kallgard for
the photograph of Hattie Andre and her class. Most of the information on Andre outside her time on Pitcairn I
got from an article in the free Adventist publication “Record” from February 18, 2012 (the portrait of her used
in this article was also used here, but I received the one used in “Dem Tull” from a different source). Finally,
thanks to Brian Young for the pictures of the Hattie leaves.
:
A photograph of Hattie Andre and her class on
Pitcairn. She is the woman standing in the centre.
A painted Hattie Leaf.
The Bauhinia Monandra, whose leaves
(Hattie Leaves), when dried are used for
painting.
BACK PAGE
From Council minutes vidlink 9th and 16th October: Mecki Kronen, for EU located in Noumea, told us we have
to be more proactive regarding the Alternative Harbour Project, as the funding ($7M) had been available since
January, but it had not been accessed. “You are in the driver’s seat. We are concerned that you don’t use this
funding.” It seemed neither Council nor the Project Manager realized the funding had been released. Neither
did anyone know that the official contract with EU had been sent here. It appeared later that we had been
informed in March that the money was indeed in the bank ready for us to spend on machinery etc, and the
contract had been sent to all council members in January. The next stage of the funding will be lost if we don’t
prove sufficient progress by June 2013. Six months have already been lost.
Mecki worried about the small workforce in relation to the momentous Tedside project, did we need external
help? She had seen our immigration policy and this might be the right time to draw immigrants to the island.
Lesley Reid, DFID, on vidlink 2 October: Keep in mind capacity for workforce for AH project.
Governor Treadell in her vidlink referred to time of austerity in UK and also on Pitcairn, and warned that there
is a squeeze on the purse, and we got to deliver the strategic plan, put it in action. We got a window of a few
years to show progress. Infighting in Council and in the community must be put aside to show we got the
ability and capacity. Factionalism is detrimental to Pitcairn’s future. We must also let know if outside services
necessary, as our manpower miniscule. She stressed there are capacity issues, but Council did not agree. “Do
you want to reconsider your decision?”
17th October – Council agree to advertise jobs on the government website
24th October – all birth certificates from the 1950s and 1960s have disappeared from our register office. It was
mentioned they might have been surrendered to NZ-based court registrar Graham Ford during the police
investigation 2000-2003, when also all Council minutes from the past disappeared. We don’t even have copies
of them on island.
The link to the conference website we gave in September issue was wrong, the correct website is
www.2012BPC.com. Sorry about that. We are told the website has now over eight hours of video recording
from the conference.
(Back issues of Dem Tull can be found on www.demtullpitcairn.com )
Harts et. Ef any yorley wunta tull, tulla Kari orn [email protected] or Julie orn
[email protected]
Hooray