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Archive: 24 July 2010
South Sea Islanders
As part of the Queensland Rail Holidays 'Bundy Breakaway' package visitors are able to venture on a new tour that follows the cultural heritage of Bundaberg's South Sea Islanders.
Bundaberg is famous for its sugarcane industry that has produced icons such as Bundy rum and locally produced ginger beer. While the brands are recognisable across the country, how this industry began is less well known. It may not be one of our proudest moments in history but the black birding of thousands of workers from all across the Pacific Islands is an important story and one Matt Nagas tells through a new tour.
Matt's grandfather was shipped to Bundaberg in 1893 to clear the land for sugar farming. For nearly 50 years from the 1860s until 1904 more than sixty thousand islanders, were shipped in as the primary labour source for the sugar industry in Queensland.
Taken from all over the South Pacific the Islanders spoke different languages and had different traditions. New rules and laws had to be established and this occurred at a place Matt's tour visits called the 'Namakal'. The most significant development at this location was establishing a new language called Bislama (pigeon English) which enabled communication between groups. It was taken back to the Pacific Islands and is still spoken today.
Other areas visited by the tour include Fairymead Wharf where South Sea Islanders, or 'Kanakas' as Matt refers to them and old working sheds. The group also visits an old barrack style accommodation that was once considered upscale.
The journey is completed with a tradition 'Motu' feast, similar to what the indigenous Australians call a 'Kup-murri' or Maori's call a 'Hangi', food is buried in the ground and cooked under hot rocks for several hours.
A half day South Sea Islanders Heritage tour is included as part of the four day Bundy Breakaway with Queensland Rail Holidays.
The trip includes three nights accommodation at Villa Mirasol, breakfast daily, 2 days touring and transfers.
Contact:
Queensland Rail Holidays
4 day Bundy Breakaway from $685
1300 660 390
www.queenslandrail.com.au
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