On Australia Day the nations pride swells to pre-Biggest Loser proportions. Flags will flap freely from flag poles, be draped over shoulders, even flown under helicopters. But how do we show our pride without being disrespectful?
If you intend to fly the flag from your house, boat, or shoulders, the following rules and tongue in cheek suggestions may help, particularly the seven suggestions at the end for the cape crusaders amongst us.
In the count down to Australia Day, fashion stylist and Australia Day Ambassador Champion of NSW, Donny Gallela stated ..
‘There’s plenty of ways to show a little Australia Day pride, but you want to be respectful at the same time and there are protocols around our national flag which should always be observed and respected.’
The first few rules (in bold) shouldn’t be a problem  …
The custom is to display the national flag on buildings and poles from when the sun rises to when it sets, weather permitting, but especially on national and state holidays. No problem, I’m guessing about 99% of Australian homes will contain at least one national flag on Australia Day.
When flown alone on top of, or in front of, a building where there are two poles, it should be flown on the pole to the left when facing the flag. Easy enough, just think left.
Always hoist the flag quickly and lower it ceremoniously. If you have trouble with this one just think of it as a can of beer, but don’t crush it up and toss it away afterwards.
The flag may be displayed 24 hours if properly illuminated. Make sure you take a torch with you to any celebrations where you might be called upon to thrust your tiny flag skyward in the dark.
If displayed flat against the wall it should be placed behind the guest speaker, with the union jack on the left hand side as the audience sees it. Same thing goes when putting it up on the wall behind the BBQ table I guess.
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When other flags are flown from adjacent staffs (like on a boat) the Australian flag should be raised first and lowered last, and no flag may fly above or to the right of the national flag. Okay so we might have to check the flags on Timmy’s Lego sailing ship before taking it to grandpas. Here’s hoping all the boaties out there abide by the left rule, otherwise we may see a strange whirlpool created in the middle of the Swan River, as skippers manoeuvre their crafts in a clockwise direction trying to keep their flags to the left, until they all disappear up …
When used to cover a casket the union jack is at the head on the left hand shoulder. So have I got this right.. for your plastic type flag used to cover the BBQ table, you have to keep the union jack to the left of the pavlova at all times? Strike that I’ve just read that the flag should never have anything placed on top of it, so ditch the plastic flag tablecloths.
The flag should be a distinctive feature at the ceremony of unveiling a statue, but should never be used to cover the statue. So ditch the fine mesh flag that you were going to use to keep the flies off the cooked sausages too.
The rules also state that the flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.
Fashionista Galella agreed saying …
‘I feel this is sacrilegious and this should not be condoned. Flags belong on a flag pole or to be carried high and waved with pride, not to be worn and possibly ripped or damaged.’
Well we know that rule’s going to get broken. If you do have a flag cape wearing Brian or bikini top Michelle amongst your group, the very least we can do is try to uphold some of the rules, like …
The flag should not be lowered into gravel or touch the ground. Hmm could prove tricky around 9pm. Anyone wearing a flag cape should roll it over a few times at the neck to make sure it doesn’t drag on the ground, but not too much so you can’t twist your head to see the ‘sweet’ green and gold Monaro going passed.
If carried with other flags single file, the national flag should always be in the front. Got that? Given our growing multi-cultural leanings, if you’re in a group of Aussie’s wearing flags from a range of nations, and you’re entering the bottle shop one at time, make sure that national flag wearing Brian is first through the door.
When displayed outdoors with other flags it should have the position of honour to the extreme left position as the flags are frequently viewed. After leaving the bottle shop keep up the constant refrain of ‘Brian, get over here, keep left’.
In an enclosed circle of flags representing a number of nations, the flag should be immediately opposite the main entrance to a building or arena. When you finally make it to your chosen spot, explain the situation by saying … ‘We don’t care that you can’t see Brian, you chose to wear the national flag you have to stay at the entrance sorry mate, see you in an hour or so’.
When in a semicircle of flags representing a number of places the national flag should be in the centre. So it’s half way through the night and Brian has snuck back to join the group. ‘No Brian, you can’t go to the loo you have to stay put in the centre, it’s the rules mate.’
When suspended vertically in the middle of a street … oh dear I don’t like where this is heading … the top left quarter should face the north in an east-west street, and face east in a north-south street, thus being on the left of the observer facing east or south respectively. ‘What? F**d if I know just sit down Brian … not there, in the middle Brian.’
The flag should never be carried horizontally but should always be aloft and free. ‘Brian, get up Brian.’
It should never be displayed with the union jack down except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property. ‘Brian … Brian, answer me Brian!!!’
But most of all on Australia Day the main rule about the flag is Respect it, Display it correctly, and Treat it with pride.
Happy Australia Day.
