Flag of Australian - Description of the Australian Flag
As the
above picture of the Australian Flag indicates the overall
background is
Blue
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Australian flag represent the
following:
Blue -
vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Australian flag is
described as Canton
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Australian flag is described as 1:2 ( length twice the height )
The upper
left quarter of the flag is called the Canton and pictures
the flag of the UK
The
Australian flag pictures
a large
seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star which
represents the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901
The
Commonwealth Star depicts one point for each of the six original
states and one representing the six original states and the
territories of Australia
The
Commonwealth Star is displayed in the lower hoist-side quadrant
The fly half
of the Australian flag pictures a representation of the Southern
Cross constellation featuring white stars
One small
five-pointed star
Four,
larger, seven-pointed stars
It is based
on the British blue ensign as the flag was originally mainly
intended for naval use
The Meaning
& History of the Australian Flag - The Union Jack was first
used as the unofficial Australian national flag. On 14th April
1954 the "Blue Ensign" flag became the official Australian flag.
The blue ensign design was adopted over the red ensign design as
red was viewed as the symbol of communism
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Australian
Flag Etiquette
Australian Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic
Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Australian as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Australian
State Flag of
Australian
Military Flag of
Australian (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Australian
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Australian Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Australian should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Australian flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Australian should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Australian flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Australian, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Australian Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Australian flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Australian flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Australian flag to the top, then lowering the
Australian Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Australian flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Australian flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Australian flag
The Australian flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Australian
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Australian flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to
Australian
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding Australian Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Australia
Location:
Oceania, continent between the Indian
Ocean and the
South Pacific Ocean
Land Size of
Australia : 7,686,850 sq km
Climate / Weather
of Australia : generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south
and east; tropical in north
Population of
Australia : 19,950,000
Former Name(s) :
N/A
Capital City of
Australia : Canberra
GDP of Australia :
$570.3 billion (2003 est.)
Main Industries :
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food
processing, chemicals, steel
Crux, the
cross is commonly known as the Southern Cross. The stars
comprising Crux were visible from the Mediterranean area in
antiquity and enabled focal points for ancient navigators.
The five
brightest stars of Crux also appear on the flags of Brazil, New
Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.
Australia
has been inhabited for at least 50,000 years
It was first
inhabited by the remote Asian ancestors of the current
Australian Aboriginal people
Australia
not discovered by Europeans until the 17th century
In 1770
Capt. James Cook took possession of the Australian land in the name of
Great Britain
It was first
colonised in 1788 as a penal colony
Six
Australian colonies
were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries
In 1901 the
colonies federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia and
became a self-governing dominion of the British Empire
1914 - 1918
WW1
1939 - 1945
WW11
August 1945
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Australia is
a constitutional monarchy with the British monarch as the head
of state
An
Australian referendum
to change Australia from a commonwealth, headed by the British
monarch, to a republic was defeated in 1999
"Around the World in 80
minutes!"
A combination of information
regarding a Nation's flag, History, Geography and Current Events
provides an accurate snapshot of the evolution of each country
In just a short period of time this
concise information with specific facts will improve your
overall understanding of the great countries of the World
A useful Educational Resource
accessed from the Index
You can go "Around the World in 80
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The
Australian Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Australian Flag and Country has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge
of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flag and Nations
Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
