The date for New Caledonia’s independence referendum has been announced: 18 November. It has been a long time coming after first being scheduled in 2014 and is strongly supported by the Indigenous Kanaks, making up 45 percent of the total population. New Caledonia has a history very similar to Australia’s after starting as a penal colony in the 19th century, having a proud participation in the 20th century world wars and is resource rich providing 25 percent of the world’s supply of nickel. It is currently an overseas territory of France and has four members in the French parliament. For more information, click on the link below. [“New Caledonia sets date for independence referendum” by Kim Willsher, The Guardian online, 19 March 2018]
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
