Norfolk Island welcomed the King’s Baton Relay with a celebration defined by identity and community, as one of the smallest communities in the Commonwealth marked its place on the road to Glasgow 2026.
The journey began on 9 March at Government House in Kingston, where around 50 guests gathered for the official unveiling of Norfolk Island’s Baton.
Designed by three students from Norfolk Island Central School, the Baton immediately set the tone for the Relay, rooted in identity, storytelling and community.
At the heart of the design is the traditional plait, wrapped around the Baton to represent how knowledge, language and heritage are woven together and passed down through generations. Symbols of the Yolla stone speak to strength and connection to the land, while shark teeth and fish reflect courage and respect for the ocean. Turtles, long associated with guidance and endurance, represent journey and a deep connection to home.
The island’s natural environment is also carried within the design, from the panga tree fern to the iconic Norfolk pines and mountain landscape, alongside the figure of the Man of Norfolk Island, honouring the people past, present and future. Ocean inspired colours complete the Baton, reflecting both geography and identity.
Norfolk Island’s chosen word, Proud, sits at the centre of it all, capturing both the spirit of the community and the bowls team preparing to represent the island in Glasgow.
On 11 March, the Relay moved out into the community. Around 270 people took part as the Baton travelled through key locations including the Auraville Maze, Botanical Gardens, Emily Bay Beach and the Norfolk Island Bowls Club.
Sixteen sporting associations were represented across the day, a significant showing for an island of just over 2,000 people. From
athletics and boxing to netball, cricket and outrigger canoeing, the breadth of participation reflected a community where sport remains central to daily life.
At the Botanical Gardens, Junior Rangers from the National Park joined for a shared moment with the Baton, while at the maze, younger Batonbearers captured the spirit of the day, some reluctant to let go as they took in the experience.
Weather conditions forced the cancellation of the planned glass bottom boat activity, but the programme adapted. The evening gathering at the Bowls Club brought together locals and visitors to view Norfolk Island’s Baton and close the day.
The Relay continued on 13 March with a visit to Norfolk Island Central School, the island’s only school. With wet weather changing plans, the Baton was taken classroom to classroom, allowing all 290 students, teachers and staff to experience it up close.
The three student designers accompanied the Baton throughout the visit, sharing the meaning behind their work with each group and reinforcing the connection between design, identity and community.
Among those joining the visit was Phil Jones, Norfolk Island’s lawn bowls bronze medallist at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Speaking to students and sharing his medals, he offered a direct link to the Games and answered questions from across the classrooms.
Across each stop, one theme remained constant. A strong sense of place, community and belonging within the wider Commonwealth.
From Government House to classrooms, from coastal sites to community clubs, Norfolk Island’s King’s Baton Relay was defined not by scale, but by connection.
