While I Can Still Remember: Norfolk Island

by Lyn Duclos, Zozie Brown (Illustrator)

Overview

While I Can Still Remember is the story of Norfolk Island. This work of historical fiction begins with a prologue that introduces a monolithic Norfolk Island pine at its 'birth' as a seed over 650 years ago. The story then takes us to the present where the old tree - Lone Pine - has always stood on a limestone cliff at Point Hunter on Norfolk Island. At the base of its trunk a sapling - Piali - clings to the cliff.

The island is waiting for Piali to grow strong enough to take over from Lone Pine, whose time is almost over, so the sapling's survival is vital. The old tree has been the keeper of the stories of Norfolk Island and these stories must be passed on to its successor so that the species will remain intact. If they fail, every Norfolk Island pine tree on Earth will lose its bark, its branches, and the species will become extinct.

So the stories begin of visits by Polynesians over centuries and Captain Cook's discovery of the island in 1774. We experience the first British settlement in 1788 which coincides with the settlement at Botany Bay that year. We read with horror of the brutality of a succession of governors who oversaw the prisoners living a fate worse than hell at their hands. We discover the island's silence and emptiness in 1814 when the settlement is abandoned until 1825 when it's resettled under an even more brutal regime. And then a glimmer of hope under Alexander Maconochie's rule where prisoners are finally treated as human beings worthy of reform. When Maconochie's term finishes, the brutality resumes until the British leave again in 1855 to settle in Van Diemen's Land. Now we learn about the Mutiny on the Bounty and its far-reaching consequences for a small group of sailors and Tahitians whose descendants settle on Norfolk Island.

But time is running out. Lone Pine is becoming forgetful and unable to continue passing on the island's history. His and Piali's bark is itching, a sure sign that their bark is about to shed. Suddenly the Norfolk Island pines begin to shed their bark and drop their branches. The same is happening on the mainland of Australia. The situation is grim. Their friends - the fairy terns and green sea turtles - are desperate to halt the progress of the pines' extinction. They call upon the island's flora and fauna to group together and find a way to help Piali store every last detail in his trunk, branches and leaves. Is he up to it? Can he absorb everything in such a short space of time that Lone Pine has absorbed over centuries?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780975780411
Publisher:	Piland Press
Publication date:	11/27/2015
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.33(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Since the success of Lyn's last book, Shattered Reflections, she has gone on to tackle a totally different project of historical fiction for children, While I Can Still Remember. The telling of Norfolk Island's history came about after a number of holidays there, each time being inspired by a very old Norfolk Island pine tree. She imagined all the events it would have witnessed over the centuries; if only it could talk! During the years it took to research and write the book, she also taught creative writing to adults and facilitated children's writing workshops for the local council. Mother of Andrés and Pilar, Lyn is now retired and lives in a beach-side suburb of Melbourne with her two cats, writing full time and travelling.

Zozie Brown graduated from RMIT University with a Bachelor of Arts in Animation and Interactive Media in 2013. She worked in the animation industry for a year, where she was an intern on a major Hollywood film, Spongebob Squarepants, and acted in a number of films for local Honeyhouse Films, including 51 Paintings and The Tailor of Autumn. She currently resides on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria working as a writer and freelance illustrator.

Table of Contents

Prologue: Mid 1300s - Norfolk Island
Chapter 1: Norfolk Island 2015
Chapter 2: The Polynesians
Chapter 3: October 1774 - Captain Cook
Chapter 4: March 1788 - 1st British Settlement
Chapter 5: March 1790 - the Wreck of the 'Sirius'
Chapter 6: 1790-1796 - Ross & King
Chapter 7: February 1814 - Leaving Norfolk Island
Chapter 8: June 1825 - 2nd British Settlement
Chapter 9: March 1840 - Alexander Maconochie
Chapter 10: 1840-1855 - Leaving Norfolk Island Again
Chapter 11: 1856 - 3rd Settlement - the Pitcairners
Chapter 12: Losing Bark
Chapter 13: Making Connections
Chapter 14: The Betrayal
Chapter 15: 8th June - Bounty Day
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

'Lyn Duclos has cleverly entwined imaginative storytelling and characters with history - what better way for our children to come to understand their heritage.' - Lisa Richards (Director/Curator, Norfolk Island Museum)

'This book is a truly unique and heartfelt way of cultivating history into the minds of our expanding generations - for the young saplings unable to read, the roots of imagination can take hold as they listen and get transported through time - for the older saplings nearing the horizon, this book helps to spread the historical branches of literature and encourage the growth and development of exploring different perspectives. This book is not just a story but the true untold secrets of the pine, for hundreds of years locked up in ancient trunks now told through the voice of our oldest sentinel - lone pine - he has watched over our 4 settlements; now we can listen to his story. We can help him plant the seeds of history before our lonely old pine goes from legend to simply a place name - lost in the past.' - Racheal McConnell (Museum Attendant and Guide, Norfolk Island Museum)

'While I Can still Remember is a delightful, imaginatively crafted, narrative that will engage young people with the fascinating story of Norfolk Island. Lyn Duclos has made every effort to accurately capture both details and atmosphere of the various settlements in a highly readable way.' - Judith Davidson (Research and Interpretation Officer, KAVHA Research and Information Centre, Norfolk Island)

'This is a beautifully crafted book which intelligently excites the curiosity of the young reader to learn about the history of Norfolk Island in a novel way. It is also a poignant reminder how precious and fragile are memories held by their temporary custodians. A special read for children of all ages.' - Dr Janet Mason, MAPS (Consultant Psychologist, Melbourne)
 
'A wonderfully unique and creative perspective with which to educate children about the rugged and important history of Norfolk Island. Thoroughly researched, this narrative clearly informs its readers about little-known aspects of Australian History. Particularly useful for Year 5 students as part of their study into the Australian Colonies of the 1800s.' - Kristy Mortimer (Gifted and Talented Teacher, Kilvington Grammar School, Melbourne)

'The story uses sustained imagery to create a picture in the mind of a reader which is fabulous to target the majority of students who are visual and kinesthetic learners to capture their imagination.
The personification used continually brings life and strong characterisation of the sapling. The life-like connections, such as those with the Pine, resemble relationships with grandparents and an important life concept - 'memories' - which they share.
Historical references and explanations tie in with Australia's history to make connections with their prior knowledge.
Historical concepts are used to lead to students asking questions, as an example Van Diemen's Land, and the references made which will lead to classroom discussions and further avenues for students to explore.
The level of language is challenging enabling students to draw upon reading strategies in order to decode and comprehend the text.' - Stephanie Potter (Primary School Teacher, Brisbane, Qld)

'Anybody reading this will come away enriched, entertained and absolutely acquainted with a fascinating history told in a lively, compelling manner. Very different from anything we have encountered before.' - Janine Wood (Secondary School Teacher, Victoria & Queensland)

From the Publisher