President’s Message
Our Australian National Flag Day ceremony will be held on Friday 3 September at the historic Lancer Barracks, Parramatta. The 98th birthday celebration will be hosted by the pupils of local schools, co-ordinated by the Parramatta Public and High Schools. Members and friends of ANFA attending this important event, will be entertained by the students. Flag Day messages will be read, and our Flag broken-out with due ceremony.
In contrast to this occasion for celebration, Saturday 6 November is when the referendum for a republic takes place. If Australian’s are not vigilant, it could result in radical changes in our Nation’s Constitution and have serious ramifications for the Australian National Flag. One of the principal promoters of a republican Australia is Malcolm Turnbull, who, in 1990, was a director of the company Ausflag, the controversial organisation, determined to destroy our traditional Flag of “Stars and Crosses”. Can we trust those republicans who say that they have no interest in changing our Flag? How wide is their agenda for change? We must remain vigilant, resolute and vocal in order to ensure that the status of our traditional National Flag is not diminished.
On a happier note, in preparation for the centenary of Federation in 2001, production of the new ANFA video is on schedule. This video commemorates the centenary of our Flag on 3 September 2001. At this year’s Parramatta Flag Day a new sticker, marking the Centenary of the Flag, will be launched.
Another occasion for patriotic flag-flying should be the 2000 Olympics. However, SOCOG now plans to promote the Boxing Kangaroo as the souvenir flag of the Games. We must double our patriotic efforts by wearing, displaying and flying the Australian National Flag on all occasions over the next two years if we are to counteract what, in effect, appears to be SOCOG’s and the AOC’s attempt to demean our world status by portraying us as pugilistic marsupials.
In conclusion, ANFA’s work could not continue without the tireless devotion to duty of our dedicated volunteers and members. I extend my appreciation to all of you and, in particular, I would like to salute, and heartily thank, Ted Eggins and Gwen Carruthers, who so ably run the ANFA office.
JOIN THE FLAG DAY CELEBRATIONS PARRAMATTA AND KEEP OUR FLAG FLYING HIGH!
John Christian Vaughan
President
ANFA (NSW) Inc 1998-99 Review
We have not recently recognised the always willing, small group of volunteers who ensure all members receive their newsletters by applying address labels to the envelopes, inserting the newsletters and any inclusions and final processing for mailing. They cheerfully perform that essential link with members.
At Martin Place Amphitheatre on 3rd September ’98 it was partly sunny, the breeze coolish but great for flag flying. The entertainment from the WOOLOOWARE HIGH SCHOOL BAND and the FIVE DOCK Primary School Choir was up to their usual high standard and the celebrated guest speaker Mr Des Renford MBE OHC delivered a rousing address, covering both sporting and patriotic aspects. Our President, John Vaughan led an enthusiastic group of students through the formality and protocol of “breaking out the Flag” (it broke out and flew beautifully) to the loud and echoing “three cheers for the Australian National Flag” – followed by the band, choir and all present joining in with “Advance Australia Fair”.
We do sincerely thank all those participants, including attending members and the assembled public as well as our genial Master of Ceremonies David C. Field.
25 November 1998: Forum/debate Newport Arms Hotel-Opinion in the Pub “The best flag for Australia”. Our President John Vaughan V. Harold Scruby of Ausflag. General conclusion was WIN for John, with superior presentations, knowledge of subject and a real flag of history and symbolism. Ausflag lacking in valid argument and no popularly acceptable design.
Saturday, 9 January 1999: The Sydney Morning Herald published a major article by one of its more credible journalists, Paul Sheehan, whose book ‘Among the Barbarians – the Dividing of Australia’ was released some months earlier in 1998, an excellent read. The S.M.H. article bore the sub-heading “The debate about a republic blithely ignores a growing challenge to our national sovereignty, writes Paul Sheehan”.
We quote the following extract from it:
“This is the backdrop against which Australia has embarked on a national debate about the symbols of sovereignty – the constitution, the head of state, and the national flag. This debate will take place in an era of real and increasing constraints on the autonomy of nation states, when real changes in cultural and economic life are increasingly being driven by international institutions.
The constitutional debate, though noble and serious and worthwhile, is, at its most elemental level, a luxury. Australia already is an independent nation – the monarchy is a pure legal fiction and everybody knows it. The head of state is, by convention if not law, already an Australian. The flag will not be changed unless a sensational, galvanising alternative emerges. It is a debate over principle, not necessity, while the big changes in Australian life are being moulded by the global economy”.
Saturday, 23 January 1999: The S.M.H. lined up again – in conjunction with AUSFLAG (Harold Scruby and the “high profile minority groups”, Greiner, Whitlam, Holmes Court, Adams etc.) to run their usual Australia Day flag poll. The Herald gave their Paul Sheehan the job of running the poll with three (3) Ausflag provided designs put up against our Australian National Flag. You may remember last year it was one of 102 designs and was a clear winner with 8,253 votes, of a total 22,000 in the phone poll. This year the result released on Australia Day was another big win for “the people’s flag”. As Paul Sheehan reported, “with 6,200 votes recorded, the Australian blue ensign was the overwhelming favourite with 3,433 votes, or 57.5 per cent. Those who want a new Australian flag had better get back to the drawing board – fast. The Herald’s poll on the flag, has produced a resounding endorsement for the existing national flag”.
Surprisingly, we wrote to the Editor (S.M.H.) thanking him for running the poll, with five paragraphs of comment and our letter was published in full on 3 February ’99. The additional designs and awards promised at that time by Ausflag have not yet eventuated!
Weekend 6/7 February 1999: Our enthusiastic member Philip Gibson took himself to Canberra where the Republicans (incl. some Ausflag types) were holding their own convention (12 months after the original “all-in con-con”). On confronting Janet Holmes Court about her oft repeated Ausflag propaganda “that the first time our national flag was used by Australian forces was in Vietnam”, she immediately looked at her watch and bolted “for another appointment”. Propaganda indeed.
27 March 1999: Another debate recorded for GREEK – AUSTRALIAN T.V. with John Mangos as anchor-man. John Vaughan and David Field for A.N.F.A. – V – Harold Scruby and George Poulos. We did not view the result on air but our team was relaxed and happy with the recording aspects.
20 April 1999: With President John not being available, I accepted an invitation to represent ANFA/NSW at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth. A service of dedication was held at the memorial and grave of ANNIE WHISTLER DORRINGTON, Co-designer of the Australian Flag. (See separate account of this historic/patriotic occasion).
21 May 1999: Having initially written to the Federal Minister for Arts and Centenary of Federation in November 1998 for information regarding the Celebration of the Centenary of Federation Fund, we received last April the guide lines and Application form for seeking funding assistance on a 50/50 basis for a special Centenary School Video project in the HISTORY and EDUCATION section of the Centenary program. Our Application was mailed on 21 May 1999 – closing date was 28 May 1999. We received notification of its receipt by the National Council for the Centenary of Federation, with advice that we will be further advised of Council’s decision by the end of August. Our application/project is specifically aimed at the centenary of the first official raising of the Australian Flag on 3 September 1901 – a most important date within the centenary of Federation year.
John Christian Vaughan
President
Australian Flag Sculpture
The Tweed Daily News, 1 March 1999.
A $75,000 bronze sculpture of five schoolchildren raising an Australian flag is proposed for Tweed Heads. The sculpture, eight metres in front of the memorial fountain in Chris Cunningham Park, would be paid for by nearby Twin Towns Services Club and Coolangatta/Tweed Heads sub-branch of the Returned Services League. The sculpture, intended to depict schoolchildren showing their allegiance to the flag, would incorporate a real flag to be raised and lowered each day by the club.
It is the brainchild of Tweed-based singer Julie Anthony and her husband, Eddie and is born out the entertainer’s own memories of her childhood at a 15-pupil school in the tiny South Australia mallee town of Galga.
Service Club chief Russell Roylance told Tweed Heads Shire Council on Wednesday the concept was one the whole community should get behind and would help bridge the generation gap between old diggers and schoolchildren.
University of Queensland’s official sculptor for the past 23 years, Rhyl Hinwood, who has been asked to do the work, said the five bronze Aussie schoolkids would be of European, Asian and Aboriginal appearance.
The depiction of them paying allegiance to the flag would convey a message of loyalty, trust, tolerance, diversity and individualism.
“It would be an asset to the Twin Towns area to have a real work of art out there in the public domain”, she said.
Cr. Lynne Beck said it should be a popular project. Mayor Max Boyd said the fountain memorial already brought a lot of returned services people to the Foreshore Park and the new monument would “add an even greater attraction”. He said Council would make a decision soon on helping fund associated landscaping and lighting.
NOTE: We are advised that decision has now been made, favourably. A.N.F.A./NSW has congratulated all those concerned with this excellent proposal.
Editor
A Crown Called Freedom
Richard Horobin (Letters, March 14) appears to know absolutely nothing about our Constitution. The vast majority of Australians know nothing about it either, because it has never hurt them – it is the most democratic form of Constitution devised by mankind.
So, Horobin thinks this vast majority of Australians should be asked, in the forthcoming constitutional referendum, to sign a blank cheque for a republic – any republic – with the details to be filled in later by republican pushers and shovers, to satisfy their own hidden agendas, not one of which has anything to do with the welfare of Australia. Mayhem unbridled…
Instead of his puerile and meaningless slogan of “No kings”, I would suggest a realistic and appropriate one: “Freedom is our Crown”, because, in a constitutional monarchy, the Crown represents the people against the abuse of power and practice of anarchy by politicians, as it is the only element – small but important – which is totally above politics. Precious indeed.
Mr Horobin should perhaps remember the words of Yehudi Menuhin: “I was born a Russian, naturalised an American, but I chose to live in Britain under a constitutional monarchy, the best form of government ever devised”.
Marion Jolly (ANFA Member)
Union Jack Means Freedom
Although regretting my foundation membership with the termite-like Ausflag committee, it didn’t take long to appreciate that the Union flag in the canton (top hoist corner) of our Australian flag is the unifying symbol of all those English speaking peoples who value and believe in the freedom granted to them by constitutional monarchy, representative parliamentary government and the rule of law. The beauty, colour, design, function, history, meaning and purpose of our Australian flag, make it second to none. Best wishes for Australia Day.
By Jonathan Graham (Double Bay) in the Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth January 23, 1997. With an apology to Mark Rodda (ANFA) Tamworth who sent the clipping to us in January ’97. It was misplaced but now located – still equally relevant.
When Nick Was Premier
Letter, 26 August 1991
I am delighted to have the opportunity to send a message of congratulations to the Australian National Flag Association via my colleague, the Hon. Marlene Goldsmith, who is representing me at this function to commemorate the 90th Birthday of our Australian National Flag. In particular, the commitment the Association has shown to raising the funds to prepare the video, is to be commended.
I believe it is important to remind everyone, and especially the young people, of the historical significance of our flag, and to do this through a video presentation is the most appropriate medium to reach this audience. Again, congratulations and best wishes. Signed: Nick Greiner M.P.
P.S. Soon after leaving the NSW Parliament, Nick became a Co-Chairman, of AUSFLAG LTD. Main Objective: To change the Australian Flag!
