The Spirit of Rotary Norfolk Island
The background to the cover below is as follows:- George(Kik) Quintal, a descendant of the Bounty mutineers, was the islands Forester for many years prior to his retirement. He was active in the islands Rotory Club, and his wife, Bonnie, a Nursing Sister at the Hospital and competent pilot, liked flying around Australia. The hospital needed work done on its operating theatre and the Rotory Club organised a `flight-a-thon` to help raise funds to pay for the work. A Cessna 172 (VH-RNK) was chartered from the Royal Newcastle Aero Club of New South Wales, and so away went the couple, Bonnie piloting the plane and Kik giving talks to the Rotary Clubs en route. Between them they raised $32,000 and the hospital operating theatre got the improvements it needed. As a postscript this was the the first of several like ventures flown by Bonnie around Australia, for which in 1979 she was awarded the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Air new Zealand First, Christchurch- Norfolk Island
Air new Zealand Boeing 737 ZK-NAW "Pourourou" inaugurated a new Christchurch to Norfolk Island service on this date, No official first flight covers were produced, however a small number of Round Trip covers, postmarked New Brighton NZ 2 Nov.90, and with a Norfolk Island return stage cancellation, dated 5 Nov. 90, are recorded. An equally small number of Norfolk Island-Christchurch single stage covers are also known. Airmail postage from Norfolk Island-70c. A privately produced rubber stamp cachet giving flight details, and separted by a Norfolk Pine, was applied in black to the round Trip and single covers, the one shown below is in red, also can anybody inform me about the datestamp being Christchurch loose letter, instead of New Brighton? (Norfolk Island back stamp shown).
Other Interesting Norfolk Island Covers
Whales of Norfolk Island
Shipwrecks of Norfolk Island