Thread: Now that's a flag!

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

Canadian. It was designed by a Canadian. A member of the Ballarat Reform League.

Indeed it was.


Eureka Flag - Concept - Electronic Encyclopedia of Gold in Australia

Originally Posted by cuppabillytea

I stand corrected. Now I have to find out why I thought it was an Italian.

Carboni wrote about the event, but , oddly enough, he wasn't at the fight. Nor were a number of foreign diggers Carboni had been tasked to organise. To my knowledge, this has never been explained.

Carboni, Raffaello - Biographical entry - Electronic Encyclopedia of Gold in Australia

The rebellion.

Eureka Stockade - Concept - Electronic Encyclopedia of Gold in Australia

The Ballarat Reform League Charter, arguably one of the most important documents in early Australian history. You can scroll down to read the gist of it, or magnify to read the actual document.

Image - Ballarat Reform League Charter - Electronic Encyclopedia of Gold in Australia

We are currently going through quite a dynamic period of time where there is constant change. Would it be best to make a big decision like changing a country's flag during this time or waiting until after, whenever they may be.
It would actually be quite interesting too see how the different ethnic groups would feel about this issue.
I can see the issue of the union jack being in our flag though. It is definitely heritage, but is it the heritage that all Australians want to remember and be proud of. I think someone earlier said the current flag was chosen in 1953. Interesting too see what issues and the thoughts of the included Australians of that time were.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Actually for the first half of the period since WWII a lot of them were from the UK. But that is irrelevant.

Regardless of where they came from, they came here well aware of (or should have been) the fact that Australia is an English speaking country, with a government and legal system based on the English system, and with a flag based on the Union flag.

By and large, the second generation will have English as their first language (I am well aware there are exceptions - thirty years ago I met a woman born in Australia, into a family that had been here since the 1850s, who spoke only Cantonese). The flag is one of the very minor reminders of the basis of Australian society, and I have no doubt that there may come a time when a large majority may want to change it. But that is not now. And the impetus for this majority will not be that it does not reflect the society, but that a better flag has been proposed.

Change for the sake of change does not appeal to most people.

John

Well said John. I agree entirely, but I look forward to the day when we have a new more representative flag, when and if such a flag exists. I also look forward to Australia becoming a republic, which would require little more than a change to the title of the head of state.

Originally Posted by Landy Smurf

.......... I think someone earlier said the current flag was chosen in 1953. Interesting too see what issues and the thoughts of the included Australians of that time were.

The flag was actually chosen based on a design competition in 1901. It was officially recognised as the flag of Australia by proclamation in the Government Gazette in 1903.

Following traditional practice with British flags, the red version was used for private citizens and at sea, with the blue one restricted to government and naval use. The army used the red version, and this specifically replaced the Union flag under directions in 1911 legislation. Through the years there were various proclamations on usage, but there remained some confusion on use, with most private citizens and many organisations using whichever version was available - red, blue or Union Flag. Naval ships were directed by 1911 legislation to fly the Australian flag in place of the Union flag on the jackstaff, but retained the White ensign at the stern until it was replaced by the Australian white ensign in 1967.

The Flags act of 1953 codified and clarified use of the flag, but considering that the flag was chosen in 1901, approved by both the king and the federal government as the Australian flag in 1903, and was legislated as the flag of the armed forces in 1911, the statement that the flag only dates from the 1953 Flags act is quite clearly not only wrong, but is often deliberately misleading by people who actually know better, but have an axe to grind.

Part of the confusion arises from the fact that in 1901, while Australia became a federation, it still remained part of the British Empire, and the Union flag hence had precedence. It may be significant that the then PM, Robert Menzies, issued a statement supporting the use of the Australian flag by private citizens in 1941 (reinforced by a repetition of this in 1947 by Ben Chifley) at a time when it was becoming clear that Australia could not rely on Britain for defence. (Australia effectively became independent in 1931 with the passing of the Statute of Westminster. Although in theory this still allowed Britain to legislate for Australia until 1986, as early as 1933 Britain refused to do so (and has never done so), clearly establishing Australia's independence. Appeals to the Privy Council also remained possible until 1986, but were rare.)

John

Thank you John, now I know