Isle of the Singing Pines - Norfolk Islands.
This is a three-part radio documentary consisting of theme music, interviews with Norfolk Island residents, and recordings of hymns sung in the island church. It is presented by Bryan O'Brien.
Episode 1: Bryan O'Brien introduces the programme with a description of his first view of Norfolk Island. He sailed to the island on the New Zealand government steamer 'Matai' with two technicians and equipment. They anchored at Cascades and caught huge sharks while at anchor. Once ashore, he called on the island's Administrator Alex Wilson, who speaks briefly.
Mr Wilson explains New Zealand troops were garrisoned on the island during the war, and as a result they have had many more New Zealand visitors. He thanks the government for the agricultural assistance it has given the island.
O'Brien explains the history of the island as a convict settlement, with often brutal treatment of prisoners and subsequent revolts. He describes inscriptions of some of the convict gravestones in the cemetery and then the ruins of the prison. O'Brien describes the dungeon of the prison. He visits other sights of the island, such as Barney Duffy's tree and retells the story of this early resident.
Episode 2: O'Brien explains the island's role as home of the 'Bounty' mutineers and their descendants who relocated from Pitcairn Island. He visits the home of one family and interviews 15 year old Fletcher Christian, a descendant of the famous mutineer and his mother, Mrs Christian, about life on the island. O'Brien describes the luminous toadstools which grow on the island. He then talks about the island's history of whaling.
Harry Quintal (aged 82) is interviewed about the days of whaling and the shark fishing industry. Mrs Carr also tells a story about whaling and the islanders' religious beliefs. O'Brien visits the island school and meets the children who sing the Norfolk Ode [to the tune of 'Advance Australia Fair']. He then interviews a group of children and comments on their accent and dialect, which is a mixture of Tahitian and old-world English. They call their dialect 'the lingo' and say they prefer to speak it rather than English. O'Brien then talks about the Melanesian Mission on the island and describes the mission church. Hymn singing is in the church is heard.
Episode 3: Bryan O'Brien presents what he says are the first-ever recordings of the original Pitcairn Island hymns. He gives a brief history of the former Pitcairn Islanders and the move of 194 of them to Norfolk Island. The ‘Pitcairn Anthem’ is performed. Pastor Pat Adams explains the story behind the hymn 'Gethsemane', composed by two Pitcairners. Then 'Gethsemane' is performed.
Bryan O'Brien explains hymns of thanks were sung by whalers on their return to the island after a successful hunt, this is followed by an unidentified hymn. O'Brien compares the islander's hymn singing style to the way hymns are sung in Māori. The recording concludes with the hymn 'Prince of Peace'.