MEMORANDUM TO ALL SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
DN 09/00251

Australian National Flag Day 2009

Australian National Flag Day will be celebrated across our nation on Thursday, 3 September, 2009. This day commemorates the first occasion when our national flag was flown, on 3 September 1901 when Prime Minister Edmund Barton announced the winning design from a competition to select our new nation’s flag.

I encourage you to conduct a flag raising ceremony to celebrate this day.

Our flag represents our nation when it is flown both in Australia and across the world. This day is a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on the how our flag unites us as a nation and our pride in our achievements. Recognition could be given to the symbols of Australia's history represented by the flag including the Commonwealth Star, the Southern Cross and the flag of the United Kingdom.

Information about Flag Day, including support for schools can be found on the web site for the Australian National Flag Association at www.australianflag.org.au. If you have any further enquiries about Australian National Flag Day, please contact Anne Southwell, Senior Curriculum Adviser K-6, Human Society and Its Environment on telephone number 9886 7156.

Trevor Fletcher
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL
SCHOOLS
July 2009