Welcome to Norfolk Island, a small island that lies some 1700 kilometres or so off the east coast of mainland Australia, almost midway between New Caledonia and New Zealand. I’ve just spent a week here… Get ready for an interesting island ride…and some fun facts. Todays post is all about POWER.

Power /ˈpaʊə/

Noun:
1. The ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way – “the power of speech”.

2. The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events – “a political process that offers people power over their own lives”

Verb:
1. supply (a device) with mechanical or electrical energy “the car is powered by a fuel-injected 3.0-litre engine”

2. To move or to travel with great speed or force “he powered round a bend”

One of the settlements of Norfolk Island were convicts and their guards. The last, or current, settlement are descendants of the ancestor mutineers – who took over the power – from the ship the HMS Bounty. Power is an interesting thing.

There are three petrol stations on the island and petrol is around $2.25 per litre! The electricity is run by a generator that uses – what is worth at the time of writing – around AU$2M worth of fuel per annum.

The islanders have recently installed a large battery, which can supply power to the whole island overnight, or for 5 hours during the day. The battery is cost $5M to buy, transport and install!

To install an air conditioner you must first have approval by council which is rarely granted. The recent refurbishment of the local bank was denied. Air conditioners are rarely needed though, it never gets above 29 degree celsius and never below 10!

For a long time self governing, Norfolk Island now a territory of Australia with a local council. When they go to the vote federally, they vote in the seat of Canberra. Services are supplied by the state of New South Wales however Queensland are looking to take over this.

Once a British colony with free settlers, then a British penal colony it for a time came under Tasmania jurisdiction where they sent the worst of the worst from the Port Arthur penal colony in Tasmania.

There are 7 police officers on the island from the Australian Federal Police – the population is around 1800 people. When Australia took over the jurisdiction of the island in 2016 the AFP set up a RBT (Random Breath Test) just to see what they were dealing with, 50 residents were stopped, 48 were over the limit.

Mutiny anyone?

Go to Norfolk Island, it’s a wonderfully interesting island.

Matty made his own way (by aeroplane, using points) to Norfolk Island and stayed at his own expense.