Flag Announcements
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Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week 2012
To All Flag Marshals: Action Australia-wide and Action at Australian overseas posts
National Sorry Day, 26 May 2012
and
National Reconciliation Week, 27 May 2012 to 3 June 2012
National Sorry Day acknowledges and raises awareness of the history and continued effect of the forced removal of Indigenous Australians. Further information is at http://www.nsdc.org.au.
National Reconciliation Week is focusing this year on how Australians can better recognise each other, and recognise the contributions, cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Further information is at http://www.reconciliation.org.au.
Flying the Indigenous Flags on National Sorry Day and throughout National Reconciliation Week confirms our national respect for Indigenous Australians. From Saturday 26 May to Sunday 3 June 2012 the Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag should be flown on additional flagpoles, where available, next to or near the Australian National Flag on Australian Government buildings and establishments. Other organisations are encouraged to follow this protocol.
If there is only one flagpole available at a flag station the Australian Aboriginal Flag or the Torres Strait Islander Flag should not replace the Australian National Flag. If two flagpoles are available, it is at the discretion of the authority concerned to determine which of the two flags is flown with the Australian National Flag. The Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag have equal status and may be flown in any order after the Australian National Flag.
Should it be the practice to fly other flags at the flag station, please refer to the Order of Precedence for flying the Australian National Flag along with other flags, which can be found in the ‘Australian Flags’ booklet (http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/symbols/docs/australian_flags_excerpt.pdf).
The financial and staffing implications arising from weekend flag marshal duties are the responsibility of each organisation.
Your assistance is appreciated.
Commonwealth Flag Officer
17 May 2012
The Honourable Frederick James (Jock) Granter
To: All Flag Marshals – Action in Victoria only
Australian National Flag to fly at Half-Mast
Monday 21 May 2012
State Funeral Service – The Honourable Frederick James (Jock) Granter
The Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet has advised that a State Funeral Service for the Hon Frederick James (Jock) Granter will be held at Heathcote RSL Hall, 127 High Street, Heathcote, at 1pm on Monday 21 May 2012.
Mr Granter was a war veteran and long serving member of the Victorian State Parliament. He was also involved in community organisations including the Returned and Services League and the Heathcote Fire Brigade.
As a mark of mourning and respect and in accordance with protocol, the Australian National Flag should be flown at half-mast all day on Monday 21 May 2012 in Victoria only from all buildings and establishments occupied by Australian Government departments and affiliated agencies. Other organisations in Victoria are welcome to participate.
In accordance with flag protocol, all flags and ensigns at each flag station should be flown at half-mast during daylight hours. However, should it be the custom to fly the flags of other nations at your flag station, it would be appropriate to seek permission from the diplomatic representatives of that nation to half-mast their flag.
Further information on the protocols for half-masting the Australian National Flag is at http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/symbols/flag.cfm.
Your assistance is appreciated.
Commonwealth Flag Officer
17 May 2012