Each year the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA) encourages all the CPA Branches in the Commonwealth of Nations, of which Norfolk Island is a Branch, to raise the awareness of the Commonwealth and the CPA among our younger citizens. This year the CPA celebrates its 100th anniversary since it was formed as the Empire Parliamentary Association in 1911.
In my pre Christmas issue of Your Parliament Your Voice I mentioned the opportunity for young Norfolk Islanders living in the UK, who are in the age range of 18 to 25 and who are interested in parliamentary affairs, to apply to represent Norfolk at the Commonwealth Day celebrations on 14 March being organised by the CPA in London. There are two places available and it is great that we have had an eligible male apply. Please, if you know of any of our young people living in the UK do give me a call as applications close on 4 February 2011.
The CPA also offers grant funding to CPA Branches to help them organise their Commonwealth Day programmes and we have applied for funding for a project we are planning to design around this year’s theme of “Women as Agents for Change”. The School is building an exciting website called “The Living Library” and if you haven’t already done so do take a look at www.livinglibrary.edu.nf. It is a work in progress and I know that Mrs Magri won’t mind my sharing the following from their website –
“The idea began in Denmark and the Living Library operated at large music festivals and invited people ... to be ‘books’ and sit down with a ‘reader’ who could ask questions about all aspects of their life - like where they come from, their family background, how they occupy their daily lives, how they see their society, things that might worry them or inspire them, and so on. It was very successful and since its inception the Living Library concept has been adapted and developed by other countries and organizations to suit their environment, budget and community needs.”
The key component of our Commonwealth Day project is to create an e-book that tells stories of women who have been meaningful agents for change in the history of Norfolk Island starting with the women on Pitcairn through to the present day on Norfolk Island. We thought ten women would be a good starting point but the wonderful thing about an e-book is that it can grow as we think of more stories to tell! Off course our goal is to have the e-book on the Living Library website.
Projects with prizes for our school children to compete in are also being planned around the Commonwealth Day theme so start thinking boys and girls about special women that you can tell a story about – and involve Mum and Dad in sharing memories with you too – you could even make it an exciting family project because Norfolk has some very special stories that it can tell about our women!. We will have more detail to give you when you return to school so stay tuned.
Wednesday the 19th January 2011 is the date of our first sitting of the Legislative Assembly in 2011 and you will find full detail of matters on the Notice Paper elsewhere in this publication. As you probably know, as well as having monthly formal sittings of the Legislative Assembly that are broadcast, Members also come together each Tuesday morning for an informal meeting to discuss topical issues and to share information. These meetings are not broadcast but they are minuted. This week was a meeting with a difference as the 7.30 Report film crew spent some time with us filming our meeting and later interviewing the Chief Minister. We look forward to seeing footage of their Island visit in due course on the ABC on Channel 2..
Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 14 January 2011
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