Flags - Australia Flag

Transcription

1 # 6 Symbols of Australia (Growing Awareness of Local Community) # 6 Symbols (Growing Awareness of Local Community) TOPIC BRONZE: SILVER: GOLD: Flags Show you know the composition of the Australian Flag. Flags - Australia Flag Describe the flag of your State or Territory and show an understanding of the components of it. Teach another Cub Scout to roll, hoist and break the Australian Flag in the correct manner. Show an understanding of the different ways of flying the flag, e.g. mourning, distress. Composition of the Australian Flag The colours and designs of a national flag stand for a country s land, its people, its government and ideals. The sight of it can stir people to joy, to courage and sacrifice. When you salute the Australian Flag, you salute your home, family, friends and fellow Cub Scouts, as well as the mountains, deserts, valleys, beaches, cities and towns. You salute to show you care about the country you live in. The Australian National Flag has a dark blue field with the Union Jack occupying the upper hoist, a large white star in the lower hoist, and five white stars in the form of the Southern Cross in the fly. The length is twice the width. Each part has a definite significance: The Union Jack indicates the origins of European settlement. The Commonwealth Star with its seven points represents the unity of the six Australian states and the seventh point stands for all Australian Territories. The Southern Cross depicts our unique location in the southern hemisphere against our blue skies and seas and sunny climate. The Union Jack This is the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and is made up of the flags of:

2 St George of England St Andrews Flag St Patricks Flag Union Jack When joined together the flags of England, Scotland and Ireland form the flag of Great Britain The Union Jack. The Union Jack is on our flag because Captain Cook took possession of our land in the name of the British King, George III on April 28 th The early pioneer settlers came from the British Isles bringing with them their passion for democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech and parliamentary government. Australia's State and Federal Parliaments were modelled upon the legislative houses of Britain. Another major factor in common was, and still is, the English language. These ideals were embodied in the Union Jack which the local designers felt appropriate for inclusion in the design of a flag for Australia. Commonwealth Star This large star has seven points that represent the States and Territories. Originally this was a six-pointed star. In 1908 the British Government approved an extra point to the Commonwealth (or Federation) Star to signify the Australian Territories. Thus for example, the Northern Territory and the ACT are represented in this Commonwealth Star. The Southern Cross The Southern Cross (five stars in a more or less kite like pattern) has long been a navigation aid to mariners and travellers and this constellation had a place in Aboriginal legends long before the coming of Europeans to Australia. These stars are called after the first five Greek letters of the alphabet. = alpha (7 pointed star) = Beta (7 pointed star) = Gamma (7 pointed star) = delta (7 pointed star) = epsilon (5 pointed star) Alpha is the lowest most star of the Southern Cross on the flag and then the naming continues in a clockwise fashion ending with the epsilon being the smallest star. One way to look at our national flag is to see the stars of the Southern Cross and the great seven pointed Federal Star as representing our progress while the Union Jack symbolises the

3 principles on which that progress is based parliamentary democracy, rule of law, and freedom of speech. In 1996 the Governor-General, Sir William Deane, proclaimed 3rd September as Australian National Flag Day, to commemorate the day in 1901 on which our national flag of "Stars and Crosses" was first flown. It is the right and privilege of every Australian to fly the Australian National Flag. Roll and Hoist the Australian Flag This is the flag to which we owe our loyalty and service. It should be treated with respect at all times, even when the Cub Scouts are practicing folding and hoisting. The Union Jack should be folded to the centre. The rope around the furled flag should be tight enough to hold the flag as it is taken to the top of the pole. When the flag is broken the Sixer takes one step back and salutes before returning to their place. At flag down the flag is saluted by the Sixer and the Second before they lower it. The rest of the Pack salute as the flag is lowered. The flag should always be folded securely before being put away. An upside down flag is a signal of distress. A flag at half-mast means that an important person has died. Never let the flag touch the ground this is a special sign of respect. Rolling the Australian Flag (a) Start with flag full out as in diagram (a). (b) and (c) Fold lengthwise bottom to top. This is done twice. (d) Fold in half across the length. (e) And (f) Fold in a concertina fold backwards and forwards. (g) Hold the flag firmly, and wind the rope around and then under itself. (h) The toggle is placed in the eye of the halyard, and the halyard is attached to the bottom of the flag rope with a sheet bend or double sheet bend. Care should be taken whenever preparing the flag to ensure it does not touch the ground.

4 Flying the Flag The flag should be raised and lowered ceremoniously The flag should be raised no earlier than first light and lowered no later than dusk. When the flag is raised or lowered, or when it is carried in a parade or review, everyone present should be silent and face the flag. People in uniform should salute. The flag should always be flown freely and as close as possible to the top of the flagpole with the rope tightly secured. Unless all flags are raised and lowered simultaneously, the Australian National Flag should be raised first and lowered last. When the Australian National Flag is flown with flags of other nations, all flags should be the same size and flown on flagpoles of the same height. When flying with only one other national flag, the Australian National Flag should fly on the left of a person facing the flags. Two flags should not be flown from the same flagpole. The flag may be flown at night only when it is illuminated. The flag should never be flown if it is damaged, faded or dilapidated. When the material of a flag deteriorates it should be destroyed privately and in a dignified way. i.e. it may be cut into small unrecognisable pieces then disposed of with the normal rubbish collection. The flag should not be flown upside down, even as a signal of distress. The flag should not fall or lie on the ground or be used as a cover (although it can be used to cover a coffin at a funeral). Flying Flags at Half-mast Flags are flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning. The image below demonstrates the correct method of flying a flag at half mast. The half-mast position will depend on the size of the flag and the length of the flagpole. The flag must be lowered to a position recognisably half-mast to avoid the appearance of a flag

5 which has accidentally fallen away from the top of the flagpole. An acceptable position would be when the top of the flag is a third of the distance down from the top of the flagpole. There are times when direction will be given by the Australian Government for all flags to be flown at half-mast - Flags in any locality can be flown at half-mast on the death of a local citizen or on the day, or part of the day, of their funeral. When lowering the flag from a half-mast position it should be briefly raised to the peak and then lowered ceremoniously. The flag should never be flown at half-mast at night even if it is illuminated. When flying the Australian National Flag with other flags, all flags in the set should be flown at half-mast. The Australian National Flag should be raised first and lowered last. Funerals The flag can be used to cover the coffin of any Australian citizen at their funeral. The upper left quarter or canton should be draped over the left shoulder of the coffin to represent the heart. The flag should be removed before the coffin is lowered into the ground or after the service at a crematorium. Order of Precedence The Australian National Flag takes precedence over all national flags when it is flown in Australia or Australian territory. After the Australian National Flag, the order of precedence of flags is: national flag of other nations, state and territory flags, other Australian flags prescribed by the Flags Act 1953, ensigns and pennants. The Australian National Flag should not normally be flown in a position inferior to any other flag or ensign and should not be smaller than any other flag or ensign. Flags Flag of New South Wales The New South Wales State Flag (1876) The State flag of NSW was adopted in 1876 and features a distinctive form of the Southern Cross on the cross of St George with the gold lion of England at its centre. This attractive badge is emblazoned on the field of the State's Blue Ensign. The cross of St George, combined with four eight-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross, first appeared on the National Colonial design ( ).

6 State Flags and Emblems State/Territory Flag Coat of Arms Floral Fauna NSW Waratah Platypus Kookaburra ACT NT QLD Royal Blue Bell Sturt s Desert Rose Cooktown Orchid Ganggang Cockatoo Red Kangaroo Koala Wedge Tailed Eagle

7 State Flags and Emblems State/Territory Flag Coat of Arms Floral Fauna SA Sturt s Desert Pea Hairy Nosed Wombat Piping Crow Shrike TAS Tasmanian Blue Gum VIC Pink Heath Leadbeaters Possum Helmeted Honeyeater WA Mangles Kangaroo Paw Numbat Black Swan