Games Baton Kicks off Mutiny Celebrations for Norfolk

Tiny Norfolk Island became the first part of Australia to welcome the Melbourne Commonwealth Games baton yesterday Sunday, January 15.

Though the smallest of the 71 ’nations’ competing at the 2006 Games, with just 1800 residents, the external territory of Australia will host the high-tech baton for four days before the globe-trotting relay moves to New Zealand on January 18 and finally the Australian mainland on January 24.

The arrival of the Queen’s Baton on Norfolk Island, 1500km north-east of Sydney, launches a year of celebrations on the island to mark the 150^th anniversary of settlement by descendants of the Bounty mutineers in 1856.

Islanders dressed in period costumes rowed the baton ashore to the historic convict colony in longboats – just as the descendants of the Bounty mutineers did 150 years ago. It then visited Norfolk’s cemetery, where Bounty descendants and convicts are buried, as well as the island’s school, churches and scenic points around the pine-clad island.

Just 8km long and 6km wide, Norfolk will field a record 25 competitors at the Melbourne Games from March 15-26 – 12 lawn bowlers, six squash players and seven shooters. Norfolk Island has competed at every Commonwealth Games since 1986 and won its only medal – a bronze for lawn bowls – at the 1994 Victoria Games in Canada.  The island also holds the record for having the oldest competitor at the Commonwealth Games – a 79-year-old lawn bowler.

The Queen’s Baton journey is the world’s longest relay, travelling 180,000km and visiting all 71 Commonwealth nations – home to one third of the world’s population – in a year and a day.  It’s the first time any Games relay has visited all member nations.

The baton boasts a global positioning system tracking device and tiny front and rear video cameras that enable it to be followed online on www.melbourne2006.com.au.

Norfolk Island Chief Minister Geoff Gardner said the island was honored to be the first part of Australia to host the Queen’s Baton.

“Norfolk may be the smallest of the Commonwealth entities but the islanders are keen to see this historic event as an exciting curtain-raiser for their sesquicentenary celebrations throughout 2006,” Mr Gardner said. “We invite Australians to come to Norfolk this year to enjoy our colourful events, culture, spectacular coastal scenery and intriguing history.”