•
Does
Isle of Pines’ history interest you?
A
new association has recently been formed aimed at preserving
the island’s convict settlement history. Terre
d’Exil ( Land of Exile) plans to promote
the island’s history and create job possibilities
for young people by developing the tourism aspect of the
convict ruins that date from the 1870s.
Annual
membership costs 2,000 cfp (approx. $16 US).
For
more information contact: terredexil@voila.fr
Postal
address: Terre d’Exil, C/- Mr. Bruno Lavolée,
B.P. 121, Vao, Ile des Pins, New Caledonia.
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Humpback whales have been back in Isle of Pines’
waters.
The
marine mammals escape the Antarctic winter by spending
July to October in warmer, sub-tropical sea. For
the past 10 years, scientists have been studying these
magnificent creatures in New Caledonia.
This
season oceanographer/biologist, Claire Garrigue,
chose Isle of Pines, for the first time, to start the
annual research. Over 11 days Claire and 4 assistants
recorded whale songs and observed some 15 whales frolicking
together, breaching and slapping.
Claire
and her team then continued their observations in the
south and north of the New Caledonian Mainland and hope
to establish whether the whales stay around Isle of Pines
during the season or whether they go further north to
mate and give birth.
Check
out : www.operationcetaces.com
for further information.
•
Not only do visitors
come to Isle of Pines, but the islanders themselves also
travel and compete favourably beyond their shores.
15
year-old, Vao high-school student, Rose-Marie Vakié,
did well in French national athletics championships in
Montbéliard, France at the end of June. She returned
home with a bronze medal for discus, and silver medals
for javelin and ‘quadrathlon’.
…..
Could Isle of Pines have a future candidate for the 2008
Olympics?
Another
young Kunie girl is also representing Isle
of Pines overseas — this time in the hotel industry.
Zerena Douépéré, until recently
a receptionist at the Meridien hotel, Oro, is now with
the same chain in Piccadilly, in the heart of London.
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