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Dem Tull 1983-1984

The Dem Tull newspaper first appeared in 1983. Long-term resident Russell Francis reminisces about those days:

“The photos plus newspaper text would be an encapsulated snapshot of one Norfolk Island year from 40 years ago.  What were the issues and interests then, as investigated by the reporters at the newspaper;   what were the people doing for fun and entertainment;   what businesses operated? etc etc

“I remember the time very well – tourist numbers boomed and people were prosperous and optimistic – the form of self-government begun in 1979 had satisfied the hope of throwing off the Canberra yoke to a great degree.  And the Dem Tull newspaper was a well-produced newspaper with a professional couple at its heart. The publisher/printer Gary Robertson was married to a Norfolk Islander.  He later became a member of the Legislative Assembly, I think assuming role of Finance Minister.

Publisher Gary Robertson pulled down the shutters on the publication after 47 issues.    In a notice in the final issue he said “This is the final issue of Dem Tull.  . . . Financial considerations were the sole factor behind the decision.”

Ric Robertson, son of Gary and a descendant of Pitcairn settler George Hunn Nobbs, has generously given permission to archive and re-publish these issues. Printed copies were generously made available for scanning by the Bounty Museum. The text of these digital files is searchable, but the search function may be imperfect given that many images are interposed.

The Norfolk Island Historical Society holds JPG files of the photos printed in the newspaper

Vol. 1 No. 1 of 24 Feb. 1983.

Vol. 1 No. 2 of 3 March 1983 (28.0MB) .

Vol. 1 No. 3 of 10 March 1983 (28.9MB).

Vol, 1 No. 4 of 17 March 1983

Vol. 1 No. 5 of 25 Mar 1983

Vol. 1 No. 21 of 14 July 1983 (30.9MB).

Vol. 1 No. 6 of 1 Apr 1983 – entitlement to vote; Ministers Kim Beazley and Tom Uren on Island for opening of airport upgrade; first jet lands at airport

Vol. 1 No. 7 of 8 April 1983 –

Vol. 1 No.8 of 15 April 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 9 of 21 April 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 10 of 28 April 1983 – 15 candidates announced for Leg Assembly poll;  marketing drive for Norfolk Island stamps

Vol. 1 No. 11 of 5 May 1983 – Touche Ross consultants compare public and private sector wages and conditions;  April a bumper month for tourist numbers

Vol.1 No. 12 of 12 May 1983 – candidates for Assembly election make policy statements; Radio station needing financial help

Vol. 1 No. 13 of 19 May 1983 – David Buffett tops Leg Ass poll; radio station seeks financial assistance; National Parks move to conserve endangered green parrot

Vol. 1 No. 14 of 26 May 1983 – two Leg Ass members, Brown and Sanders, declare themselves “the Opposition”;  Air New in negotiation for Auckland-Norfolk Island run

Vol. 1 No. 15 of 2 June 1983 – real estate agent says property prices indicate poor economic state: continuing talks with Air New  Zealand over use 0f Boeing 737 on Auck-Nlk run

Vol. 1 No. 16 of 9 June 1983 – Chamber of Commerce calls for Air NZ 737s: SDA school opened: Bounty Day best dressed family won by Christians.

Vol. 1 No. 17 of 16 June 1983 – Leg Ass to form committee to decide on Public Service head; Air NZ gets Leg Ass approval to use 737s on Norfolk Island run without an EIS;

Vol. 1 No. 18 of 23 June 1983 – Australian Navy ships intercept Taiwanese trawler off Norfolk Island; management plan for Mt Pitt Reserve

Vol. 1 No. 19 of 30 June 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 20  of 7 July 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 21 of 14 July 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 22 of 21 Jul 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 23 of 28 Jul 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 24 of 4 Aug 1983 – Minister of Finance Brian Bates calls 1983-1984 budget “frightening”; Supreme Court dismisses charges against David Lewis.

Vol. 1 No. 25 of 11 Aug 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 26 of 18 Aug 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 27 of  25 Aug 1983 –

Vol.1 No. 28 of 31 Aug 1983 –

Vol.1 No. 29 of 7 Sept 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 30 of 14 Sept 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 31 of 21 Sept 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 32 of 28 Sept 1983 –

Vol. 1 No. 33 of 12 Oct 1983 – Trouble over appointment of head of Public Service; Maritime Committee set up to look into seafreight problems

Vol. 1 No. 34 of 19 Oct 1983 – proposed new head of Public Service named;

Vol. 1 No. 35 of 26 Oct 1983 – Public Service Assn. critical of private sector working conditions: new Immigration Bill worries Pitcairn Descendents Association.

Vol. 1 No. 36 of 2 Nov 1983 – sewage treatment plant investigations;  legislative draughtsman disgruntled by treatment.

Vol.1 No. 37 of 9 Nov 1983 – Leg Ass member John Brown suspended from meeting.

Vol.1 No. 38 of 16 Nov 1983 -steep increase in costs for Leg Assembly; gastroenteritis fears allayed.

Vol.1 No. 39 of 23 Nov 1983 – Administration to enter computer age but CAO Ron Malsolm says “Ultimately we are looking at support from Canberra” for development of software.

Vol. 1 No. 40 of 30 Nov 1983 – Federal police raid lawyer’s and accountant’s homes over taxation cases.

Vol. 1 No. 41 of 7 Dec 1983 – Police raid victims seek return of seized files.

Vol. 1 No. 42 of 14 Dec 1983 – TEPs gain ground in quest to gain vote.

Vol. 1 No. 43 of 21 Dec 1983 – Principal says teachers would benefit from longer stays at NICS.

Vol. 1 No. 44 of 28 Dec 1983 – Supreme Court fight over document raids in Norfolk Island by Federal Police.

Vol. 1 No. 45 of 4 Jan 1983 – Court decides Police used illegal warrants; seized materials, including paintings with a book value of $54M, will have to be returned to Norfolk Island

Vol. 1 No. 46 of 11 Jan 1983 – rabbits all but eradicated from Phillip Island.

Vol. 1 No. 47 of 18 Jan 1984 – Final Issue of Dem Tull..