Blog Archives - The New Weddington Isles

Calling All Micronations – We Need YOU for a MicroChess tournament (and you could win a trophy)!!

29/4/2021

You may (or may not!) have seen posts on various micronational noticeboards here on Facebook from the Commonwealth of Dracul regarding a MicroChess compeittion.

Their Vice President, Stephen Luke, has kindly set up a MicroChess Tournament for some friendly competition between interested micronations – games are split into Beginners (definitely my category!) and Advanced and the tournament is FREE and fully online via an existing platform.

Sadly, despite the deadline of 26th April for signups, Dracul still need just a handful of more micronations to sign up to make this viable. However, the deadline HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED TO 3RD MAY TO ALLOW FOR MORE ENTRANTS.

Whilst the Micronational community quite rightly prides itself on it’s individualism, I truly believe that online competitions / sporting events are a great way of these entities to come together in a shared and friendly manner. Such initiatives have potential to do much more to foster relations than endless ‘treaties’ and conferment of titles (although there is of course a place for these), and fake “virtual” wars more suited to Dischord…

The New Weddington Isles has an active ‘virtual’ and real-world sporting team and feel this is a key part of our culture. Chess is an internationally understood competition and as a nation we are proud to sign up for this and explore further ways of joint working through sport to bring micronations together…

Which is a long-winded way of saying PLEASE if you have the inclination and the most basic knowledge of chess (it’s not the winning it’s the taking part !!) – why not sign up; who knows – you may even come away with a trophy!

If the micronational community cannot muster the small number of participants required for this (10) then I feel that is a little concerning and a missed opportunity. The Registration link is here, check(mate) it out 😊

New Weddington Isles Commorative Gardens continue to grow

26/4/2021

We may have just missed Earth Day 2021, but we are pleased to announce that the New Weddington Isles Commemorative Gardens project continues apace. Located in the grounds of the Isles' temporary seat of Government in Canberra, Australia, these grounds will be accessible for local residents and are intended as a thank you to our host nation and a bequest when our Government takes its rightful place in situ in the Isles themselves, located in the South Pacific Ocean.

Having established a grant and local Government community funding, contractors moved in today and have already made good in-roads into clearing what was a disused wasteland; ready for re-soiling and replanting. Local residents and New Weddington Subjects will then add to the maintenance and design of this space as a place of peace, nature and harmony - all important elements in the Isles' vision.

As a part of our aspiration of "renewal" and our ecological commitments under the Micronational Declaration on Ecological Stewardship (2017) we have already installed self-watering planting systems and have taken delivery of a compost-accelerator mulch bin.

We will keep you abreast of developments in this exciting project; meantime here are some images of the Gardens with work already bearing fruit (pardon the pun!!)

Diplomatic relations of the Southern Confederation of Angosvria and the New Weddington Isles established.

25/4/2021

Diplomatic relations of the Southern Confederation of Angosvria and the New Weddington Isles have been established as of 23rd April 2021.

The New Weddington Court Baron commented: "On behalf of Lord Watitune, we are delighted to formally acknowledge Diplomatic Relations between our two micronations. We trust this will be the start of a fruitful and beneficial collaboration".

Prime Minister's residence on behalf of Gustavo Essedin Game: "I am pleased with a very deep gratitude and gratitude on behalf of all the people of the nation of Angosvria to thank two nations close to the southern hemisphere that despite their distance we remain close with our wisdom and friendship, that this relationship is a symbol of friendship beyond diplomatic relations but rather that our peoples draw closer to each other in our freedom, democracy, and human rights and cultural exchanges and sharing of ideas and deep friendship a true milestone that is registered in our memory of our country from today.

"In the middle of the pandemic we have gone through a global crisis but we have both been able to get ahead with our health systems but nevertheless New Weddington and Angosvria together we were able to carry our relationship for more things within the next few years. And we wish the peoples of the New Weddington islands a very prosperous and happy future."

You can read the full Treaty text as a PDF here.

New Weddington Isles Remembers Legacy of War on ANZAC Day

25/4/2021

Here in Australia - where the New Weddington Isles' Prime Consul is based "in terra aliena" - the 25th April marks ANZAC Day: a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who served, suffered and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

Without glorifying war, the Isles acknowledge the contribution and suffering of all those affected by war - both frontline personnel and civilians.

This day has a particular resonance for the New Weddington Isles going back to the old Manor of Weddington back in England. It is our custom to dedicate a poppy to Sergeant Sydney John Vines - a former groom and manservant at Weddington Castle who travelled halfway around the world with his employer and joined the 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force in 1914.

Due to Covid restrictions, rather than attending a Dawn Service this year Lord Watitune has remembered Sgt Vines with a "virtual poppy" via the Australian War Memorial website.

Sgt Vines went on to see extensive action in World War I - including Gallipoli - and was awarded the Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his actions. He died in Wellington in 1922, leaving behind 6 children.

More on his extraordinary life here (PDF document)

Glimpses of the New Weddington Isles from the Past Give Hope for their Future

23/4/2021

As you may be aware the New Weddington Isles are based upon a territorial claim upon the former Royal Companys Islands in the South Pacific/Indian Ocean. Given their location away from major shipping lanes and disputes over their exact status / location and even existence, NO other sovereign country lays claim or has ever laid claim to these.

Part of our ongoing mission – with a view to ultimately inhabiting the Isles – is to demonstrate the existence and location of the Islands; through both historic hydrographic navigational charts and modern satellite technology.

Having already established the first recorded sighting back in 1776, we have recently obtained an article from the Australian Geographer 1935 which details various sightings and references of the Islands on Admiralty charts (dating from 1840 through the early 1900s), Books on Navigation and Sailing Directories (in 1839 and 1864) and Atlases and Maps (as early as 1837, Atlas by De La Marche, Paris. Shown on map 37, of Oceania – and as late as 1922, Map of the World by the National Geographic Society, Washington. Shown on a small inset of South Polar Regions.)

This is exciting news as it goes to validate sighting of the Isles over two centuries, adding to our claim that these are not “phantom islands”.

As well as adding this document to our State Artefacts collection, we will continue to scour satellite imagery of the area referenced in historic sightings and hope to have a real-time glimpse of the Isles very soon.

New Weddington Isles take delivery of coat of Arms for Prime Consul

20/4/2021

New Weddington Isles Coat of Arms doorplate arrived today; this features the official arms embossed on 1cm thick sustainable maple wood.

This will adorn the Prime Consul in Canberra for now, and we look forward to it taking pride of place in our Government offices when we enact our territorial claim upon the New Weddington Isles in the Southern Ocean region.

Green Light for Green Space at New Weddington Isles Consul

17/4/2021

The New Weddington Isles received some very positive news yesterday. As you may be aware, whilst our ultimate homeland is the unclaimed former Royal Company's Islands in the Indian Ocean, our Prime Consul and government 'territoria transmarina' is based in Canberra, Australia.

We have now successfully secured a budget grant and maintenance resources from Canberra's Government Sports & Recreation Fund to develop a New Weddington Isles Commemorative Garden in our grounds, on what is currently derelict land. This will include a water source, rock features, self-watering planters for flowers and vegetables and a covered area for meditation and outdoor activity. We intend to leave this as a legacy to our host nation when we move on to our rightful lands, as well as showing in our small way how micronations can have positive interactions with the macronational world.

This project is in its early stages and we will keep up to date as the Gardens develop. Meantime here are our early stage images...(we have already made a start on some planters and have ordered a new signage featuring the New Weddington Coat of Arms plus a flagpole)

New Weddington Isles and the Principality of Woodlandia sign Mutual Recognition Treaty

16/4/2021

April 2021. The New Weddington Isles has formally signed a Treaty of Mutual Recognition with the Principality of Woodlandia. The New Weddington Court Baron stated: "we wish to express our admiration for our fellow micronation and its online presence as well as its aspirations - which we believe to be closely aligned to our own.

"Further to that, our nation are pleased to extend our hand of friendship and co-operation and formalise this is in a treaty of mutual recognition".

The Principality of Woodlandia added: "the Government of the Principality of Woodlandia and the New Weddington Isles, with this Treaty, submit the intention to enhance their nations through cooperation between both parties in the spirit of friendship, statesmanship, and partnership through mutual diplomacy".

Among other joint working the two nations will be exploring the concept of inter-micronational sports; a key element of both of their future plans.

The nation of Woodlandia was founded and proclaimed an independent sovereign state on March 12, 2019 by the current head of state, His Royal Highness Hereditary Sovereign Prince Shawn of the Principality of Woodlandia. The state is governed by a constitutional monarchy with an elected Prime Minister who serves as the head of government, and chairman of the Royal Ministries.

The Principality of Woodlandia is a recognized nation according to the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States. Government officials, hand chosen by HRH the Prince and the Prime Minister, continue to develop a sustainable working government, while actively engaging in positive diplomatic relations with other sovereign states. The Principality of Woodlandia maintains its goal of universal recognition through world peace.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE TREATY OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION

New Weddington Isles Limited Edition T-Shirts

14/4/2021

We are delighted to have taken delivery of a new item to add to our online shop.

Featuring a white image of the NWI Coat of Arms on a black background, this stylish item is 100% cotton and was commissioned to mark the Isles' Renewal Day on 30th March. The t-shirt is available with either a blank back or the Renewal Day date, and comes in a range of sizes.

You can also find a range of clothing and gift items in our online shop here - from USB sticks to mousemats and also our range of Manorial Titles.

The New Weddington Postal Service is still experiencing some international delivery delays due to flight cancellations
and government restrictions because of COVID-19. Therefore, to minimise wait times for our loyal customers, we shall continue shipping all items via EXPRESS rather than STANDARD mail. WE WILL NOT BE CHARGING EXTRA FOR THIS SERVICE.

The New Weddington Isles Marks Passing of Prince Philip with 21 Gun Salute

11/4/2021

Today, 11th April 2021, the New Weddington Isles paid tribute to the life and achievements of the UK's Prince Phillip.

This was marked by a 21 Gun Salute which was overseen by Lord Watitune at the New Weddington Isle's 'government ex aliena' Prime Consul in Canberra, Australia. This was a 21 rather than 41 gun salute, as the Prime Consul does not constitute a Royal Park, which merits the further 20 guns.

Lord Watitune said: "It is with great honour and humility that we mark the passing of High Royal Highness. As a ruler of one of the globe's newest fledgling state's I am in awe of the memory of this man who was such a giant of statesmanship in one of the oldest monarchies which spanned a quarter of the world. He leaves a lasting legacy of charity, environmental awareness and Common goals between nations from which we can all learn"