1.
Araucaria heterophylla
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Araucaria heterophylla is a vascular plant in the ancient and now disjointly distributed conifer family Araucariaceae. The genus Araucaria occurs across the South Pacific, especially concentrated in New Caledonia where 13 closely related and it is sometimes called a star pine, triangle tree or living Christmas tree, due to its symmetrical shape as a sapling, although it is not a true pine. The trees grow to a height of 50–65 m, with straight trunks and symmetrical branches. The young leaves are awl-shaped, 1-1.5 cm long, about 1 mm thick at the base on young trees, the thickest, scale-like leaves on coning branches are in the upper crown. The cones are globose, 10–12 cm long and 12–14 cm diameter. They disintegrate at maturity to release the nut-like edible seeds, the scientific name heterophylla derives from the variation in the leaves between young and adult plants. The first European known to have sighted Norfolk Island was Captain James Cook, in the late 1950s a trial shipment of Norfolk pine logs was sent to plywood manufacturers in Sydney, Australia, with hopes to develop a timber export industry on Norfolk Island. Although the plywood companies reported excellent results, the industry was deemed not sustainable by the Norfolk Island Advisory Council, the timber is good for woodturning and together with the similar Cook pine is extensively used by Hawaii artisans. The distinctive appearance of tree, with its widely spaced branches and symmetrical, triangular outline, has made it a popular cultivated species. When the tree reaches maturity, the shape may become less symmetrical and it grows well in deep sand, as long as it receives reliable water when young. This, and its tolerance of salt and wind, makes it ideal for coastal situations, young trees are often grown as houseplants in areas where the winters are too cold for them to grow outside, and are sometimes used as Christmas trees. It will not survive in areas subject to prolonged cold, however, there are a few specimens growing outdoors in the subtropical gardens of Tresco Abbey Gardens on the Isles of Scilly, in the United Kingdom. What is probably the most northerly specimen growing outdoors is a tree on Valentia Island on the southwest coast of Ireland. The tendency for potted saplings to develop a barren appearance can be helped by growing them in clumps, in northern climates they can be left outdoors during summer to promote fuller growth. Large numbers of Norfolk Island pines are produced in south Florida for the houseplant industry, the bulk of these are shipped to grocery stores, discount retailers and garden centres during November. Many of these are sprayed with a coating of green paint prior to sale to increase their eye appeal. Some areas in the southern USA deserts and subtropical Florida prohibit the planting of Norfolk Island Pine due to the fact they can be struck by lightning, the species survival is not threatened at all, as it is grown commercially for potted plants. However, the native, natural stands of A. heterophylla were always restricted and have much reduced since Capt
2.
Norfolk Island
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The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia. Together with two neighbouring islands, it one of Australias external territories. It has 1,796 inhabitants living on an area of about 35 km2. Norfolk Island was first settled by East Polynesians but was long unpopulated when it was also settled by Great Britain as part of its settlement of Australia from 1788. The island served as a penal settlement from 6 March 1788 until 5 May 1855. On 8 June 1856, permanent civilian residence on the island began when it was settled from Pitcairn Island, in 1914 the UK handed Norfolk Island over to Australia to administer as an external territory. The evergreen Norfolk Island pine is a symbol of the island, native to the island, the pine is a key export for Norfolk Island, being a popular ornamental tree on mainland Australia, where two related species grow, and also worldwide. Norfolk Island was settled by East Polynesian seafarers either from the Kermadec Islands north of New Zealand or from the North Island of New Zealand and they arrived in the thirteenth or fourteenth century, and survived for several generations before disappearing. The first European known to have sighted and landed on the island was Captain James Cook, on 10 October 1774 and he named it after Mary Howard, Duchess of Norfolk. Sir John Call argued the advantages of Norfolk Island in that it was uninhabited, in 1786 the British government included Norfolk Island as an auxiliary settlement, as proposed by John Call, in its plan for colonisation of New South Wales. The decision to settle Norfolk Island was taken due to Empress Catherine II of Russias decision to restrict sales of hemp, practically all the hemp and flax required by the Royal Navy for cordage and sailcloth was imported from Russia. They arrived on 6 March 1788, during the first year of the settlement, which was also called Sydney like its parent, more convicts and soldiers were sent to the island from New South Wales. As early as 1794, Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales Francis Grose suggested its closure as a settlement, as it was too remote and difficult for shipping. The first group of left in February 1805, and by 1808 only about 200 remained. A small party remained to slaughter stock and destroy all buildings, so there would be no inducement for anyone, especially from other European powers, to visit. From 15 February 1814 to 6 June 1825 the island was abandoned, in 1824 the British government instructed the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane, to occupy Norfolk Island as a place to send the worst description of convicts. Its remoteness, previously seen as a disadvantage, was now viewed as an asset for the detention of recalcitrant male prisoners, furthermore, the overwhelming majority of convicts sent to Norfolk Island had committed non-violent property sentences, and the average length of detention was three years. The second penal settlement began to be wound down by the British government after 1847, the island was abandoned because transportation from the United Kingdom to Van Diemens Land had ceased in 1853, to be replaced by penal servitude in the UK
3.
Triband (flag)
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The triband is one of the most common designs of flag, and is the design of some 30% of all current national flags. As the name suggests, the feature of the design of a triband is three parallel bands of colour. If the three bands have three different colors, the triband is a tricolour, in its simplest form, the triband consists of three equally sized horizontal or vertical stripes and nothing else. Examples of horizontal tribands include the flags of Austria and Germany. In each of these pairs, the second named flag is also a tricolour, diagonal tribands are less common, and often do not have stripes of equal areas or widths. An example is the flag of the Republic of the Congo, such flags are often not considered tribands by vexillologists, but rather are described as having a single diagonal stripe on a one- or two-coloured background. More complex tribands include flags charged or defaced with an emblem or flags with bands of unequal size, the most famous complex triband is arguably the national flag of Canada, which is charged with a maple leaf and has bands of uneven size. The ratio of the bands on this flag has led to the term Canadian pale to refer to any central vertical band on a triband which is twice the size of the bands on either side. Some tribands, such as the flag of the Gambia, are fimbriated and this means that between the stripes there are narrower stripes. This is sometimes done to increase contrast between multiple stripes or to follow the rule of tincture, though in cases the fimbriation also has specific symbolism. Below is a list of tribands organized by continent, some of them are charged, i. e. they have some additional symbol apart from the three simple coloured fields
4.
International Standard Book Number
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The International Standard Book Number is a unique numeric commercial book identifier. An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation of a book, for example, an e-book, a paperback and a hardcover edition of the same book would each have a different ISBN. The ISBN is 13 digits long if assigned on or after 1 January 2007, the method of assigning an ISBN is nation-based and varies from country to country, often depending on how large the publishing industry is within a country. The initial ISBN configuration of recognition was generated in 1967 based upon the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering created in 1966, the 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO2108. Occasionally, a book may appear without a printed ISBN if it is printed privately or the author does not follow the usual ISBN procedure, however, this can be rectified later. Another identifier, the International Standard Serial Number, identifies periodical publications such as magazines, the ISBN configuration of recognition was generated in 1967 in the United Kingdom by David Whitaker and in 1968 in the US by Emery Koltay. The 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO2108, the United Kingdom continued to use the 9-digit SBN code until 1974. The ISO on-line facility only refers back to 1978, an SBN may be converted to an ISBN by prefixing the digit 0. For example, the edition of Mr. J. G. Reeder Returns, published by Hodder in 1965, has SBN340013818 -340 indicating the publisher,01381 their serial number. This can be converted to ISBN 0-340-01381-8, the check digit does not need to be re-calculated, since 1 January 2007, ISBNs have contained 13 digits, a format that is compatible with Bookland European Article Number EAN-13s. An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation of a book, for example, an ebook, a paperback, and a hardcover edition of the same book would each have a different ISBN. The ISBN is 13 digits long if assigned on or after 1 January 2007, a 13-digit ISBN can be separated into its parts, and when this is done it is customary to separate the parts with hyphens or spaces. Separating the parts of a 10-digit ISBN is also done with either hyphens or spaces, figuring out how to correctly separate a given ISBN number is complicated, because most of the parts do not use a fixed number of digits. ISBN issuance is country-specific, in that ISBNs are issued by the ISBN registration agency that is responsible for country or territory regardless of the publication language. Some ISBN registration agencies are based in national libraries or within ministries of culture, in other cases, the ISBN registration service is provided by organisations such as bibliographic data providers that are not government funded. In Canada, ISBNs are issued at no cost with the purpose of encouraging Canadian culture. In the United Kingdom, United States, and some countries, where the service is provided by non-government-funded organisations. Australia, ISBNs are issued by the library services agency Thorpe-Bowker
5.
Flags of the World
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Flags of the World is an Internet-based vexillological association and resource. Its principal project is the Internets largest website devoted to vexillology, containing information about all kinds of flags. The mailing list began as a group in about September 1993, while the website was founded by Giuseppe Bottasini in late 1994. FotW became the 56th member of the FIAV in 2001, both the website and the mailing list operate in the English language, though there are members from around the world and as such information from many languages is translated and included. The mailing list is monitored by the FOTW Listmaster, while work on the website is coordinated by the FOTW Editorial Director, the website is updated once a week with fresh material, some mirrors update monthly. Due to the amount of material there is an editing backlog. There are also some mirrors that have not been updated for varying periods of time, the source for material on the FOTW website are contributions to the FOTW mailing list, which has over 1000 members, of which some 100 are active contributors. The mailing list has notable minorities of Portuguese, French, Dutch, a staff of three unpaid volunteers manages and moderates the list. An affiliated Flags of the World Facebook group has established, inaugurated by Edward Mooney. As of November 2016 the group is run and moderated by a team of ten administrators, FOTW displays standardized flag images in GIF format, usually at a height of 216 pixels. While the GIF file format is capable of displaying 256 colours, the organizations flag is a design by Mark Sensen, which was selected over 10 challengers in a poll of FOTW mailing list members and was adopted 8 March 1996. Since then, March 8 has been regarded as FOTWs Flag day, Sensen described its symbolism, White on the hoist stands for peace, blue on the fly for progress. The six colours of the stars are the colours used in flags. The stars help to make one bigger symbol, the way the stars are all connected to each other represents the Internet. The flag is used as a rare representation of the Internet on a flag. List of flags List of flags by country Gallery of country flags Flags of the World Dictionary of Vexillology Flag Days Of The World FOTW mailing list
6.
Flag of Australia
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The flag of Australia is a defaced Blue Ensign, a blue field with the Union Jack in the canton, and a large white seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter. The fly contains a representation of the Southern Cross constellation, made up of five white stars – one small five-pointed star and four, larger, there are other official flags representing Australia, its people and core functions of government. A slightly different design was approved by King Edward VII in 1903, the seven-pointed commonwealth star version was introduced by a proclamation dated 23 February 1908. The dimensions were formally gazetted in 1934, and in 1954 the flag recognised by, and legally defined in. Constituent parts of the flag of Australia The Australian flag uses three prominent symbols, the Union Flag, the Commonwealth Star and the Southern Cross, the Commonwealth Star, also known as the Federation Star, originally had six points, representing the six federating colonies. In 1908, a point was added to symbolise the Papua. Another rationale for the change was to match the star used on the Coat of Arms, the Southern Cross is one of the most distinctive constellations visible in the Southern Hemisphere, and has been used to represent Australia since the early days of British settlement. Ivor Evans, one of the designers, intended the Southern Cross to also refer to the four moral virtues ascribed to the four main stars by Dante, justice, prudence, temperance. The stars are named after the first five letters of the Greek alphabet, in order to simplify manufacture, the British Admiralty standardised the four larger outer stars at seven points each, leaving the smaller, more central star with five points. This change was gazetted on 23 February 1903. A complete specification for the design was published in the Commonwealth Gazette in 1934. The location of the stars is as follows, Commonwealth Star – 7-pointed star, alpha Crucis – 7-pointed star, straight below centre fly 1⁄6 up from bottom edge. Beta Crucis – 7-pointed star, 1⁄4 of the way left, gamma Crucis – 7-pointed star, straight above centre fly 1⁄6 down from top edge. Delta Crucis – 7-pointed star, 2⁄9 of the way right, Epsilon Crucis – 5-pointed star, 1⁄10 of the way right and 1⁄24 down from the centre fly. The outer diameter of the Commonwealth Star is 3⁄10 of the width, while that of the stars in the Southern Cross is 1⁄7 of the flags width, except for Epsilon. Each stars inner diameter is 4⁄9 of the outer diameter, the flags width is the measurement of the hoist edge of the flag. The colours of the flag, although not specified by the Flags Act, have been given Pantone specifications by the Awards and Culture Branch of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Australian Governments Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers also gives CMYK and RGB specifications for depicting the flag in print and on screen respectively
7.
Australian Aboriginal Flag
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The Australian Aboriginal Flag is a flag that represents Aboriginal Australians. It is one of the flags of Australia, and holds special legal and political status. It is often together with the national flag and with the Torres Strait Islander Flag. The flag was designed for the land rights movement. The flags width is 1.5 times its height and it is horizontally divided into a black region and a red region. A yellow disc is superimposed over the centre of the flag, the Government of Australia granted it Flag of Australia status, under the Flags Act 1953, by proclamation on 14 July 1995. Due to an oversight, the 1995 proclamation was not lodged so that it would continue in force indefinitely. It was therefore almost identically replaced, on 25 January 2008, the design is reproduced in Schedule 1 and described in Schedule 2. The symbolic meaning of the colours is, The flag was first flown on National Aborigines Day in Victoria Square in Adelaide on 12 July 1971. It was also used in Canberra at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy from late 1972, despite strong criticism from both Games officials and Australian team president Arthur Tunstall, Freeman carried both flags again after winning the 400 metres. Nonetheless, since Howard became Prime Minister in 1996 and under subsequent Labor governments, however, this decision was differently criticised by Thomas himself, who said that the Aboriginal flag doesnt need any more recognition. Thomas had sought recognition of his ownership and compensation following the Federal Governments 1995 proclamation of the design. His claim was contested by two others, George Brown and James Tennant, the National Indigenous Advisory Committee campaigned for the Aboriginal flag to be flown at Stadium Australia during the 2000 Summer Olympics. SOCOG announced that the Aboriginal flag would be flown at Olympic venues, the flag was flown over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the march for reconciliation of 2000, and many other events. On the 30th anniversary of the flag in 2001, thousands of people were involved in a ceremony where the flag was carried from the Parliament of South Australia to Victoria Square. Since 8 July 2002, after recommendations of the Councils Reconciliation Committee, the Aboriginal Flag has been flown in Victoria Square. Many buildings in Australia fly the Aboriginal flag as well as the Australian flag, various councils in Australian towns fly the Aboriginal flag from the town halls, such as Bendigo. The first city council to fly the Aboriginal flag was Newcastle City Council in 1977, the Aboriginal flag is sometimes substituted for the Union Flag in the canton of Australias flag in proposed new Australian flag designs
8.
Torres Strait Islander Flag
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The Torres Strait Islander Flag is an official flag of Australia, and is the flag that represents Torres Strait Islander people. It was designed in 1992 by Bernard Namok and it won a local competition held by the Islands Coordinating Council, and was recognised by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission in June 1992. The Government of Australia granted it Flag of Australia status, under the Flags Act 1953, due to an administrative oversight, the 1995 proclamation was not lodged so that it would continue in force indefinitely, hence it automatically expired on 1 January 2008. It was therefore almost identically replaced, on 25 January 2008, the design is reproduced in Schedule 1 and described in Schedule 2. Although Namok has since died, the Torres Strait Islander Flag is still subject to copyright under the Copyright Act 1968. The green panels at the top and the bottom of the flag symbolise the land, the thin black stripes between the green and blue panels signify the Torres Strait Islanders themselves. The white five-pointed star at the centre of the flag represents the five island groups. White symbolises peace, while the star is a symbol for navigation, AIATSIS, Torres Strait Islander flag Retrieved 5 March 2015. Official Australian Government website, Its an Honour - Torres Strait Islander Flag, Torres Strait Island Regional Council Torres Strait Regional Authority Torres Strait Islander Flag at Flags of the World
9.
Australian Red Ensign
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The winning design was based on the traditional British Red Ensign and featured the Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star. The original variety of points was an indication of the brightness of each star as it appeared in the night sky. In 1908, the current Commonwealth star of seven points replaced the earlier six-pointed star, technically private non-registered vessels were liable to a substantial fine if they did not fly the British Red Ensign as they were not formally covered by the Navigation Act. However, an Admiralty Warrant was issued on 5 December 1938 which authorised such non-registered vessels to fly the Australian Red Ensign, australia enacted fully domestic shipping legislation in 1981. From 1901 to 1954 the Red Ensign was used as the flag by State and local governments, private organisations
10.
Australian Civil Aviation Ensign
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The Australian Civil Aviation Ensign is an Australian flag that is used by the Australian Civil Aviation Authority. The design of the flag is based on the British Civil Air Ensign, there is a Union Jack in the upper hoist quarter, and the other quarters light blue. In 1948, the colour of the stars was changed to white, originally, civil air ensigns were intended to be flown at airports and by civilian aircraft on the ground. Australian Civil Aviation Ensign at Flags of the World Discussion on its specifications
11.
Boxing kangaroo
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The boxing kangaroo is a national symbol of Australia, frequently seen in popular culture. The symbol is displayed prominently by Australian spectators at sporting events, such as at cricket, tennis, basketball and soccer matches. The flag is also associated with its namesake national rugby league team – the Kangaroos. A distinctive flag featuring the symbol has since been considered Australias sporting flag and this stance gives the impression that the kangaroo appears to be boxing with its attacker. The image of the kangaroo has been known since at least 1891, when a cartoon titled Jack. In the late 19th century, outback travelling shows featured kangaroos wearing boxing gloves fighting against men, helped establish the concept of a boxing kangaroo as a popular culture cliché. The 1978 Hollywood movie Matilda, which starred Elliott Gould and Robert Mitchum, during World War II boxing kangaroos were stencilled on Australian fighter aircraft of No.21 Squadron RAAF based in Singapore and Malaya to differentiate their aircraft from British planes. The practice soon spread to units, as well as onto ships in the Royal Australian Navy. Alan Bond owned the image and licensed it for mass production, the image was later bought by the Australian Olympic Committee, and is used as a mascot to represent the Australian Olympic team and to promote sport and fair play in schools. The IOC ordered the flag to be taken down as they believed the symbol to be too commercial as it is a registered trademark, the Australian team later decided they would only take down the flag upon receiving a formal written request for its removal. The IOC has a clean venue policy in order to protect the rights of its sponsors, ” Coates said. DiggerHistory. info – The Boxing Kangaroo, an Australian icon becomes a flag BK Zone the home of the Boxing Kangaroo – an Australian Olympic Committee site
12.
Queen's Personal Australian Flag
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The Queens Personal Australian Flag is the personal flag of Queen Elizabeth II in her role as Queen of Australia. The flag was approved for use in 1962 and it is only used by the Queen when she is in Australia, or attending an event abroad in her role as head of state of Australia. The Queens representative, the Governor-General of Australia has a separate flag, the Upper Middle represents Victoria and contains a Crown and five white stars on a blue field. The Upper Right represents Queensland and consists of a blue Maltese cross, bearing a Crown, the Lower Left represents South Australia and includes a piping shrike on a gold field. The Lower Middle represents Western Australia and consists of a swan on a gold field. The Lower Right represents Tasmania and contains a red lion on a white field, the gold seven-pointed star, represents the states and the territories. The blue disc is taken from the Queens Personal Flag as used for duties within the Commonwealth of Nations, the flag is used in two ratios,1,2 and 22,31. The 1,2 ratio ensures the flag maintains visual integrity with other naval flags, a 22,31 ratio gives simple dimensions for the flag elements, with a border of 2 units thick, and central squares of dimensions 9×9. List of Australian flags Barraclough, E. M. C. and Crampton, P.207 Queen Elizabeth IIs Personal Standard in Australia at Flags of the World
13.
Flag of the Governor-General of Australia
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The flag of the Governor-General of Australia is an official flag of Australia and is flown continuously in the presence of the Governor-General of Australia. The flag has existed as three versions, the flag used between 1902 and 1909 being a Union Flag defaced with a six pointed star, crowned, surrounded by ears of corn. In 1909, following the addition of a point to the Commonwealth Star on the Australian Blue and Red Ensigns. On 16 July 1936 the Governor-General adopted a new flag for use in Australia. A similar design is used in most other Commonwealth realms, in 1953 the Governor-General adopted a new flag for official use in Australia. A similar design is used in most other Commonwealth realms, the flag is flown continuously wherever the Governor-General is in residence and is also used as a car flag. Governor-General - Australia at Flags of the World
14.
Australian Border Force Flag
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The Australian Border Force Flag is the flag flown by Australian Border Force vessels and sometimes on ABF buildings. Any vessel acting in a customs capacity must fly this flag, the current version is an Australian National Flag with the words AUSTRALIAN BORDER FORCE added in bold between the Commonwealth Star and the lower part of the Southern Cross. This flag was adopted by regulations coming into force on 1 July 2015, english law has required customs vessels to fly a distinctive flag since at least 1784. The flag was a British Red Ensign, defaced with a crown over the letters CH in the fly. A later New South Wales Customs Colonial Flag was described by a regulation published in the Supplement to the NSW Government Gazette, the Customs Act 1901 was passed soon after federation, and like previous British and colonial legislation, required the use of a customs flag. The first flag appointed under this act was specified in Section 14 of the Customs Regulations,53, page 172, The Customs flag shall be the Blue Ensign, with the addition in the fly of the letters HMC in bold character, and the word Australia. In 1903, the flag was changed from a defaced British blue ensign, an order in Council, dated 16 June 1904, notes that the word AUSTRALIA was also removed from the flag. The flag changed again when the Commonwealth star of the flag gained an extra point in 1908. The text HMC was changed to the word CUSTOMS by amendment SR297, published 17 December 1987, when customs functions were taken over by the newly created Australian Border Force on 1 July 2015, the Customs Regulations were changed to replace CUSTOMS with AUSTRALIAN BORDER FORCE. However, on 17 July 2015, the flag flying at an ABF building did not contain the word AUSTRALIAN. P. Chinn & K. Hannan, Flying the Customs flag, Manifest Winter 2005, a Customs Flag, The Advertiser,27 October 1903. Australia has a new flag and its quite the message. Customs and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2015 Australian Customs Service at Flags of the World
15.
Flag of the Australian Capital Territory
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The current flag of the Australian Capital Territory was officially adopted by the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in 1993. The flag differs from the Australian state flags as it is not a modified British Blue Ensign and it is similar in design to the flag of the Northern Territory. The flag uses the Canberra city colours of blue and gold, the Southern Cross appears as five white stars on a blue panel at the hoist, whilst in the centre of the gold field in the fly is the modified coat of arms of Canberra city. The flag was designed by Ivo Ostyn, even though the Australian Capital Territory has existed since 1909 and was given self-government in 1989, it had never had a flag of its own. Consequently, the government decided that the Territory should adopt a flag, in 1988 and 1992 competitions for a proposed new flag were held, in which artists and residents of the ACT could put forth their designs for the new flag. Subsequently the current flag won the competition, the ACT Legislative Assembly then officially adopted this flag in 1993. Since the ACT flag was first raised in 1993, proposals to modify the design occasionally occur, two notable proposals were created by the ACT Flags designer, Ivo Ostyn. These proposals both replace the Canberra Coat of Arms, which Ostyn argues to be too complex for a flag design. Furthermore, Ostyn has stated that the coat of arms was effectively required by the ACT Chief Minister during its design. Australian Capital Territory at Flags of the World
16.
Flag of Christmas Island
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The flag of Christmas Island was unofficially adopted in 1986 after being chosen the winner in a competition for a flag for the territory. It was designed by Tony Couch of Sydney, Australia, the flag was made official on Australia Day,2002 when the administrator of the territory, Bill Taylor, presented the flag to the Christmas Island Shire. The flag of Christmas Island consists of a green and blue background and these colours are intended to represent the land and sea respectively. The Southern Cross constellation appears in the left of the flag in the same manner as it appears on the flag of Australia. In the top right, the bosun bird appears. It is considered to be a symbol of the Island, the last motif appears in the centre of the flag on a golden disc is the map of the island in green. The disc itself was only included to offset the green colour of the map. In 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly announced a competition to both a flag and a coat of arms for the territory. There was a fund of $100, and some 69 entries were submitted. The winning submission was created by Tony Couch, a resident of Sydney, the new flag was announced on April 14,1986 by the Christmas Island Assembly. Although this was agreed, the declaration never took place, councillor Mariam Kawi accepted the flag as a representative of the Shire of Christmas Island. Christmas Island at Ausflag Christmas Island at Flags of the World
17.
Flag of New South Wales
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The current state flag of New South Wales was officially adopted by the government of New South Wales in 1876. The flag is based on the defaced British Blue Ensign with the state located in the fly. The badge, based on the coat of arms, is a disc with the cross of St George, a golden lion passant guardant in the centre of the cross. This flag was adopted due to criticisms from the British Admiralty that the design was too similar to the design of the Victorian flag. The state badge was designed by the Colonial Architect James Barnet and Captain Francis Hixson, even though no meaning for the design was given, it is perhaps a simplified version of what was the semi-official arms of New South Wales at the time. The first flag of New South Wales was adopted 1867 and it too was a defaced British Blue Ensign with the letters NSW in white located in the fly. New South Wales then adopted a flag in 1870 and it was almost identical to that of Victoria. This flag was also a defaced British Blue Ensign with the Governors Badge located in the fly, the badge was the Southern Cross and an imperial crown situated above the Southern Cross. The difference between this flag and that of the Victorian flag was that the stars were gold and ranged from five to nine points each star having one point pointing to the bottom of the flag
18.
Flag of the Northern Territory
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The current state flag of the Northern Territory was officially adopted by the Northern Territory, Australia, in 1978. The Northern Territory has been in existence since 1911, but could not hoist its first flag until self-government in 1978, the ceremony was further acknowledged by a 19-gun salute from HMAS Derwent. As the Northern Territory never had colonial status or a prior flag, the flag was designed by Robert Ingpen, a prominent artist originally from Drysdale, Victoria. Ingpen used a number of designs suggested by the public as a basis for his final design, the flag differs from the flags of the Australian states as it does not include the British Blue Ensign. The flag of the Australian Capital Territory adopted 15 years later is similar in design, the flags colours consist of the official Territorian colours of black, white and ochre. The Southern Cross appears as five stars on a black panel at the hoist. In the fly of the flag is a stylised Sturts Desert Rose, the floral emblem since 1961, with seven white petals. The seven white petals represent the six Australian States and the Northern Territory, Northern Territory at Flags of the World
19.
Flag of Queensland
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The state flag of Queensland is a British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge on a white disc in the fly. The badge is a light blue Maltese Cross with a crown in the centre of the cross. The flag dates from 1876, with variations, and the badge was designed by William Hemmant. On 10 December 1859, a blue flag with a red St Georges Cross. The State Flag was first created in 1870 with the Union Jack upon the blue background, however. In its place was a profile of Queen Victoria on a blue disc surrounded by a white annulus on which the word Queensland was inscribed in gold. The next alteration occurred in 1876 as there were complaints that the reproduction of Victorias head was too difficult. Many complaints by State Officials were made, including the example found in the Queensland State Archives. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, N Hemmant His Excellency WW Cairns, Esq, the final official alteration occurred in 1901 with the death of Queen Victoria. The change was in relation to the crown impaled upon the Maltese Cross, as Victoria and Edward VII had chosen different coronation crowns, however over the years the monarchs of Australia have chosen differing coronation crowns and therefore, the crowns have unofficially kept up with each change
20.
Flag of South Australia
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The current state flag of South Australia, was officially adopted by the government of South Australia in 1904. The flag is based on the defaced British Blue Ensign with the state located in the fly. The badge is a disc featuring a piping shrike with its wings outstretched. The badge is believed to have been designed by Robert Craig, a teacher at the School of Arts in Adelaide. The first flag of South Australia was adopted in 1870 and it too was a defaced British Blue Ensign, but with a black disc in the fly containing the Southern Cross and the two pointers. South Australia then adopted a flag in 1876, also a Blue Ensign. The badge design was a rendition of the arrival of Britannia meeting an Aboriginal sitting with a spear on a rocky shoreline. A kangaroo appears to be carved into the rocks behind the Aboriginal and this flag was adopted after a request from the Colonial Office for a new design over the old one due to its similarity to the flags of New Zealand and Victoria. On 29 October 2016, a motion to adopt a new and it has yet to be seen how the State Government will act on this proposal. Coat of arms of South Australia The State Flag of South Australia South Australia at Flags of the World 1870 flag
21.
Flag of Tasmania
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The governors proclamation here were three official flags, they being the Governors flag, the Tasmania Government vessel flag, and a Tasmania merchant flag. Up until 1856 when Tasmania was granted responsible self-government, the Union flag, the flag consists of a defaced British Blue Ensign with the state badge located in the fly. The badge is a disk with a red lion passant in the centre of the disk. There is no record of how the lion came to be included on the flag. Where this design originated from is unknown, but it is assumed that the red lion is a link with England, following the establishment of a permanent Britisht British sovereign possession of the lands of Tasmania. Prior to the adoption of a local flag, an unofficial merchant ensign was occasionally used. The first local flag of Tasmania was adopted by proclamation of Tasmanian colonial Governor Sir Frederick Weld on 9 November 1875. The flag had a cross on a blue field, in the canton was the Union Flag. The British Blue Ensign and Red Ensign were to have a cross added. At the fly end of each flag a Southern Cross was to be formed of white stars added above, a year later the Tasmanian government decided, with the British Admiralty’s approval, that the badge for the colony would be a red lion on a white disk. Originally the lion was to be gold in colour, above a golden torse, a British Blue Ensign with the badge served Tasmanian government vessels, and privately owned vessels were to fly an un-defaced British Red Ensign. After Tasmania became a state on 1 January 1901, the Tasmanian Blue Ensign was rarely used, most vessels soon preferred to fly the Australian Red Ensign. Since that time it has been acceptable for private citizens to use the flag, the flag of Tasmania has two distinct symbols, the Union Flag, and the State Badge of Tasmania. Unlike the national flag, the flag of Tasmania is not enshrined and protected by any acts of state or Commonwealth government, as a result, there are no official legal requirements for the construction of the flag of Tasmania. The Australian Governments Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers also gives CMYK and RGB specifications for depicting the flag in print and on screen respectively. The Governor of Tasmania, being the representative of the Tasmanian head of state and it is identical in design and construction to the flag of Tasmania, except that it features a St. Edwards Crown above the badge to represent vice-regal power. When the Governor of Tasmania is resident at Government House it is flown from the roof, the Governor of Tasmanias flag was officially adopted in February 1977 by an act of the Parliament of Tasmania. List of Australian flags Flags of the Governors of the Australian states Tasmania at Flags of the World
22.
Flag of Victoria
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The flag of Victoria, symbolising the state of Victoria in Australia, is a British Blue Ensign defaced by the state badge of Victoria in the fly. The badge is the Southern Cross topped by an imperial crown, the stars of the Southern Cross are white and range from five to eight points with each star having one point pointing to the top of the flag. The flag dates from 1870, with variations, the last of which was in 1953. The first flag of Victoria was adopted in 1870 and was first flown from HMVS Nelson on 9 February 1870 and it too was a defaced British Blue Ensign with the Southern Cross located in the fly. The stars of the Southern Cross were white and had 5,6,7,8 and 9 points with only the leftmost and rightmost stars having one point pointing to the top of the flag. At the same time, the red ensign was incorrectly authorised for use by civil vessels registered in the colony of Victoria, despite the invalid authorisation, the flag continued to be used, and was flown alongside the Union flag during federation celebrations in 1901. The red ensign did not track changes to the blue ensign, Victoria then adopted the current flag in 1877 with the stars of the southern cross from then on having 5,6,7,7 and 8 points. The depictions of the crown have varied in accordance with heraldic fashion, during Queen Victorias reign, the crown had slightly dipped arches. 1901–1952, during the reigns of Kings Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII and George VI the depiction of the known as the Tudor Crown. In 1953 the Tudor Crown was replaced with the St Edwards Crown, Victoria at Flags of the World Flags flown by HMVS Cerberus
23.
Flag of Western Australia
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The current state flag of Western Australia was officially adopted by the government of Western Australia in 1953. The flag is based on the defaced British Blue Ensign with the state located in the fly. The badge is a disc with a native black swan. The black swan has long been a symbol of Western Australia, the original colony was called the Swan River Colony at the location which is now Perth. The first flag of Western Australia was adopted in 1870 and is almost identical to the current flag of Western Australia, the only difference is that the swan was facing the opposite direction towards the fly rather than towards the hoist. Western Australia at Flags of the World
24.
Flags of the Governors of the Australian states
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The Governors of the Australian states, who represent their respective Head of State, have a personal flag in that role. With the exception of Queenslands, these flags originate from the 1970s and 1980s, in the then Australasian colonies, the Governors used the Colonial badge encircled in a laurel wreath. After Federation, when the Australian colonies became states of the Commonwealth of Australia, during the 1970s and 80s, the states, with the exception of Queensland, moved away from the British colonial model. The State Governors’ flags of most States is the same as the States flag, State Governors Flags at Flags of the World
25.
Murray River Flag
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The Murray River Flag is flown from paddle steamers and other vessels in the Australian States of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia that ply the waters of the Murray-Darling river system. Little is known about the early history but it may have originated as far back as 1850 when the formation of the Murray River League was announced. R. W. Beddome, founder of the League, enthused Up with the Murray flag, no fragments of the original Murray River Flag are known to exist and three variants have passed down to the present day. The earliest recorded reference to the Murray River Flag was at Goolwa to honour the first paddlesteamer to go into service on the Murray River. The Mary Ann, built by three brothers William, Thomas and Elliot Randell, began her voyage from Mannum downstream to Goolwa on 4 March 1853, the Murray River Flag was hoisted upon their arrival. The flag was described by a reporter of the Australian Register, the cross being charged with five stars as emblems of the Colonies while the upper corner, is taken up with British connections which is depicted by the Union Jack. It has been named, we understand, the Murray River Flag and it is believed that the blue bars represent the Murray River and the three major rivers that run into it, the Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and the Darling. The design bears a resemblance to other Australian flags of the 19th Century, such as the Australian Federation Flag. Today the Murray River is represented by three flags, each flag similar but based on different interpretations of the original description, the Upper Murray Flag has darker blue bands on its flag, representing the darker waters of the rivers upper reaches. This design was also the flag of the Murray River Steam Navigation Co. which suggests that it is a lineal descendant of the original flag design. The Lower Murray Flag, used predominantly in South Australia, is distinguished by the use of blue bands representing the lighter coloured water of the lower reaches of the Murray. A third variant, the Combined Murray Flag, is used on the reaches of the Murray in New South Wales. List of Australian flags Union Flag
26.
State of North Queensland
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The State of North Queensland is a proposed state of Australia. A committee of businessmen in Townsville first pushed for a state in July 1882. According to The Courier-Mail in 2010, the majority of North Queensland mayors were in favour of the separation from Queensland proper, only two of the 100 delegates at the NQ Local Government Association meeting were against the proposal – the two being Mayor Val Schier and Mayor Ben Callcott. Supporters of the North Queensland state include Geoffrey Blainey, and Member of Parliament Bob Katter and former member Clive Palmer. While the Liberal National Party Coalition voted down a motion to hold a referendum at a convention, it was backed by Senator Matt Canavan. Katters Australian Party Regionalism Separatism North Queensland
27.
Flag of Brisbane
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The flag of Brisbane is based upon the arms of the Australian City of Brisbane. The two primary colours used are blue and gold, with blue representing the sea and the Brisbane River which flows through the city, and gold representing the sun and the citys warm climate. The white, wavy lines in three of the six quarters of the flag may represent the river, which brought much commerce, an alternative explanation is that the wavy lines represent white clouds, parting to allow the blue sky to be seen behind them. The abundance of maritime symbols on the flag reflects Brisbanes early role as a river port, the flag is flown daily outside of Brisbane City Hall, and is also prominently displayed both inside the main city hall, as well as in other council offices throughout the city. A giant image of the flag was also projected onto the William Jolly Bridge in Brisbane as a part of Queenslands 150th anniversary celebrations, coat of arms of Brisbane List of Australian flags
28.
Flag of Melbourne
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The City of Melbournes flag features a white background divided into four quadrants by a red cross, which is the cross of St. George, the patron saint of England and taken from the English flag. A narrow red bar is adjacent to, and parallel with, in the centre, a Royal Crown is visible, signifying the Australian citys links to the Australian Monarchy. Other items featured are, going from top clockwise, fleece hanging from a red ring, a black bull standing on a hillock. The four cantons represent the activities on which the economy of the City of Melbourne was based in the mid 19th century. They were wool growing, cattle raising, shipping, and whaling, the Melbourne Flag is flown at the Melbourne Town Hall, Enterprize Park, and on the Tall Ship Enterprize. The flag of the City of Melbourne is identical to the arms of the coat of arms of the city of Melbourne, coat of arms of the city of Melbourne List of Australian flags
29.
City of Perth
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The City of Perth is a local government area and body, within the Perth metropolitan area, which is the capital of Western Australia. The local government is known as Perth City Council. The City covers the Perth city centre and surrounding suburbs, the City covers an area of 20.01 square kilometres and had an estimated population of 21,092 as at 30 June 2015. On 1 July 2016 the City expanded, absorbing 1,247 residents from the City of Subiaco, in 1694, the Dutch ship Ridderschap van Hollant was lost off the Western Australian coast near Perth. In 1829, Captain James Stirling founded Perth as part of the Swan River Colony, the City of Perth was officially declared on 20 September 1856. In 1915, it absorbed North Perth and Leederville municipalities, and on 1 November 1917, a year later, it absorbed territory from Perth Road Board including the Belmont Park racecourse. By 1962, the council had 27 members representing nine wards, on 1 July 1994, following the passage of the City of Perth Restructuring Act, the City of Perth was broken up and a significantly reduced City of Perth reconsistutued. The Town of Victoria Park, Town of Cambridge and Town of Vincent were created from the boundaries of the City. The first elections were held on 6 May 1995, with 8 councillors, the boundary changes took effect on 1 July 2016. Approximately 1,247 residents from Nedlands and Subiaco in the City of Subiaco were transferred to the City of Perth, and it features the Saint Georges Cross overlaid with the City of Perth Coat of Arms in the centre. The City has 8 councillors and no wards, each councillor serves a four-year term, and half-elections are held every two years. Perth* Crawley* East Perth* Nedlands** Northbridge Subiaco** West Perth* * The parts of these suburbs north of Newcastle and these localities are only partially contained within the City of Perth boundary. ** The parts of these localities were transferred from the City of Subiaco in 2016. These localities are only partially contained within the City of Perth boundary, the 1991 population has been broken down by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as follows, Perth 7,604, Cambridge 22,740, Victoria Park 24,313, Vincent 24,765. The official population of the City of Perth as of 30 June 2015 is 21,092. The City of Perth is twinned with, List of Mayors and Lord Mayors of Perth Perth Coat of arms of Perth List of Australian flags Official website Perth City City of Perth Parking website
30.
Royal Australian Air Force Ensign
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The Royal Australian Air Force Ensign is used by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Air Force Cadets in Australia and overseas. It is based on the Australian national flag, with the changed to Air Force blue. The roundel is a red leaping kangaroo on white within a blue ring. The ensign was proclaimed as a Flag of Australia under section 5 of the Flags Act on 6 May 1982. This results in the axis being rotated 14. 036° clockwise around Gamma Crucis and each star is rotated in this way, the RAAF was established in 1921. On 24 July 1922, the British Royal Air Force Ensign and this flag was used until 1948, when the RAAF asked to change the flag to avoid confusion. A warrant for the new flag, which had the roundel in the fly of sky-blue ensign with Commonwealth Star. The RAAF adopted a distinctive roundel on 2 July 1956, a red kangaroo replacing the red circle of the British version, the old roundel remained on the ensign, however, until 1981, when the Queen of Australia approved the change to the current flag. Although the flag is flown by the RAAF, dispensation was granted to New Lambton Public School. This was in recognition of the involvement with the RAAF during World War II. New Lambton Public School is currently the school in Australia with permission to fly the RAAF ensign
31.
Australian White Ensign
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The Australian White Ensign is a naval ensign used by ships of the Royal Australian Navy from 1967 onwards. From the formation of the RAN until 1967, Australian warships used the British White Ensign as their ensign, proposals were made in 1965 for a unique Australian ensign, which was approved in 1966, and entered use in 1967. The Australian White Ensign is identical in design to the Australian National Flag, but with the reversal of the blue background, before Australias Federation, the Colonial navies flew the British Blue Ensign, defaced with the symbol of the relevant colony. When operating outside colonial waters, these ships had to be commissioned into the Royal Navy, during the 1909 Imperial Conference, Canada and Australia campaigned for this, and suggested that these ships fly the British White Ensign, defaced with an emblem representing the dominion. No binding decision was made on the matter, suggested Australian ensigns included the British ensign defaced with a blue Commonwealth Star, or a variant of the Australian national flag. Australian warships regularly found themselves mistaken for their British counterparts, in 1966, Prime Minister Harold Holt added his support to the idea that a unique RAN ensign was required. McNicoll was in favour of retaining the Union Flag, and in January 1966, the design was approved under section five of the Australian Flags Act 1953. Royal Assent was granted to the new flag by Queen Elizabeth II on 7 November 1966, the official changeover occurred on 1 March 1967, with all ships and establishments hoisting the new flag that day. The date was brought forward from 1 May 1967 to correspond with the commissioning of the cargo ship Boonaroo. Only two RAN ships served in conflict under both the old and new ensigns, the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney and the destroyer HMAS Vendetta, the flag is white, with the Union Flag in the canton. A blue Commonwealth Star is located in the lower hoist, the Southern Cross constellation is depicted in the fly in the same manner as the national flag, but in blue instead of white. Regulations for the use of the Australian White Ensign are detailed in Australian Book of Reference 1834 Volume III, the Blue Ensign of the Australian Navy Cadets uses the Australian White Ensign in the canton. During battle, commissioned ships of the RAN will fly a large Australian White Ensign at the foremast of single masted ships, the Destroyers, their battles and their badges. East Roseville, NSW, Simon & Schuster, the Australian Centenary History of Defence. South Melbourne, VIC, Oxford University Press, Navy in Vietnam, a record of the Royal Australian Navy in the Vietnam War 1965–1972. The Australian Flag, Colonial Relic or Contemporary Icon, no Pleasure Cruise, the story of the Royal Australian Navy. Crows Nest, NSW, Allen & Unwin, Flag and Nation, Australians and their national flags since 1901. Sydney, NSW, University of New South Wales Press, HMAS Vampire, Last of the big guns
32.
Bowman Flag
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The complex Bowman Flag with its swallow-tail fly was designed by John and Honor Bowman of Richmond NSW in 1806. The shield on the shows the rose of England, thistle of Scotland. It commemorates the Royal Navy’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar a landmark event for Britain’s Australasian colonies, the design was hand painted, in oils, on silk made from Honor Bowman’s wedding dress. The flag is preserved in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, the design was an inspiration for Australia’s National Coat of Arms which features a shield showing the six Australian State Badges supported by an emu and kangaroo
33.
Eureka Flag
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The design was first used as the war flag of the Eureka Rebellion at Ballarat in Victoria, Australia. A number of people swore allegiance to the flag as a symbol of defiance at its first flying at Bakery Hill on 29 November 1854, over 30 miners were killed at the Eureka Stockade, along with six troopers and police. Some 125 miners were arrested and many others badly wounded, the flag has been lent to the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka by the Art Gallery of Ballarat. It is listed as an object of state significance on the Victorian Heritage Register and was designated as a Victorian Icon by the National Trust in 2006. The flag is reputed to have designed by a Canadian member of the Ballarat Reform League. Local legend claims that the flag was sewn by three local women – Anastasia Withers, Anne Duke and Anastasia Hayes, Ross was said to be inspired by the design of the Australian Federation Flag. According to Frank Cayleys book, Flag of Stars, the five stars represent the Southern Cross. The flag is silk, blue ground with large cross, no device or arms. It flew for the first occasion on Bakery Hill as a symbol of the resistance of the miners during the Eureka Stockade rebellion in the year 1854. Approximately 31% of the specimen is missing. The flag was re-discovered by Len Fox during the 1940s, and it was found after World War II in a drawer at the gallery, discovered by members of the Australian Communist Party. The final irrefutable validation of its authentication occurred when sketchbooks of Canadian Charles Doudiet were put up for sale at a Christies auction in 1996, two sketches in particular show the flag design as contained in the tattered remains of the flag at the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery. The remnant of the original Eureka Flag remains today, preserved for display at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka. It is listed as an object of state significance on the Victorian Heritage Register and was named as an icon by the National Trust in 2006. Since the original miners revolt at Eureka, the flag, born out of adversity, continues to be regarded by some as a symbol of rebellion closely associated with the struggle for democracy and unity. In the event that the design of the Flag of Australia is ever reviewed, along these lines, some also believe that the flag used during the Lambing Flat riots was a derivative of the Eureka Flag. During a 1983 royal tour, a republican supporter informally presented a small Eureka Flag to Diana, Princess of Wales, the event prompted a cartoon of the royal couple with Charles, Prince of Wales, observing Mummy will not be pleased. Enquiries made by the Art Gallery of Ballarat, custodians of the Eureka Flag, have so far unable to solve this mystery
34.
Australian Federation Flag
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Like the Colonial Flag, the Federation Flag features a combination of the Union Flag and the Southern Cross, but the cross is blue, not red, and there are five stars, not four. The Eureka Flag, flown by rebels at the Eureka Stockade in 1854, was influenced by designs such as the Federation flag. While the Federation Flag proved popular and was used on the East Coast of Australia for over 70 years. It was especially popular among proponents of Australian Federation and was used as an unofficial ensign by the merchant marine. In 1884 Lord Derby of the Colonial Office banned the use of the Flag at sea, the flag was a favourite of Australias first Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Barton, who asked that a variant be considered for approval along with the competition-winning Blue Ensign. The Colonial Office rejected the Federation Flag, issuing Barton a mild rebuke, the Australian government received approval to fly the Blue Ensign in 1903, but the Australian Federation Flag was still being flown by Australian citizens as late as the 1920s. It is still used in Sydney Central Railway Station main hall and our Federation Journey 1901-2001 Victorian Government Federation pamphlet
35.
National Colonial Flag for Australia
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The National Colonial Flag for Australia was the forerunner of the many Australian flag designs which featured the Southern Cross and Union Flag in combination. It is the first recorded attempt to design a national flag for Australia. The large red cross of St George features four white, eight pointed stars representing the Southern Cross, according to Captain Bingle it was adopted by the Government of Sir Thomas Brisbane. The National Colonial Flag was the first flag designed specifically to represent Australia, the flag has lately been disfigured by adding another star in the centre of the Cross by someone not comprehending the original intention and embodying American notions. Sydney in those days was Australia, and no other province to represent so that adding more Stars frustrated the original intention
36.
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia
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The flag of the Federated States of Micronesia was adopted on 30 November 1978. The blue field represents the Pacific Ocean, while the four stars represent the states in the federation, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, a similar design with six stars was in use from 1965 for the flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Kosrae was then part of Pohnpei so both were represented by one star, the three extra stars representing Palau, the Marshall Islands and Northern Mariana, which chose not to participate in the Federation. The flag, adopted in 1978, is in the colors of the UN flag, the light blue also represents the Pacific Ocean
37.
Flag of Fiji
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The national flag of Fiji was adopted on 10 October 1970. The state arms have been modified but the flag has remained the same as during Fijis colonial period. It is a defaced sky-blue Blue Ensign and it has remained unchanged since Fiji was declared a republic in 1987, despite calls from some politicians for changes. In 2013, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced plans of replacing the flag with a new design that would not include the Union Jack. The flags bright blue background symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, which plays an important part in the lives of the islanders, the Union Jack reflects the countrys links with the United Kingdom. The shield is derived from the coat of arms, which was granted by Royal Warrant in 1908. It is a shield with a red cross and a red chief. The images depicted on the shield represent agricultural activities on the islands, at the top of the shield, a British lion holds a cocoa pod between its paws. The upper left is sugar cane, upper right is a palm, the lower left a dove of peace. While some reformists have called for the removal of the Union Flag, seeing it a British colonial emblem, the flags of five other independent countries retain the Union Flag in their national flags. But of these, only Fiji is a republic, some influential Fijians have called for the restoration of the full coat of arms to the flag. The coat of arms is very significant because it has the word of God, I think that the council members prefer that the full coat of arms be included in the Fiji flag, said Asesela Sadole, General Secretary of the Great Council of Chiefs. Prior to ceding the country to British rule in 1874, the government of Fiji adopted a flag featuring blue and white vertical stripes. This flag ceased to be used when the era began. Fiji was a British colony from 1874 to 1970, the country, a republic, had removed Queen Elizabeth II from its currency a few weeks earlier. On 3 February 2015, Bainimarama confirmed that the flag of Fiji would be replaced and he announced that a national competition to design the new flag would be held, with the aim of hoisting this flag on 11 October 2015, the 45th anniversary of independence. During the competition, over 2,000 designs were submitted and it was intended to submit these designs to the Cabinet for consideration on 30 June 2015, following a brief public feedback period. However, on 30 June, Bainimarama announced that this period was to be extended to 31 December 2015, saying
38.
Flag of Kiribati
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The 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba. The badge was designed by Sir Arthur Grimble in 1932 for the Gilbert, kiribatis flag is an armorial banner, a flag having a design corresponding exactly to that of the shield in the coat of arms. The coat of arms dates back to May 1937 when it was granted to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, as Kiribati, the shield was incorporated into the centre of the fly half of a British Blue Ensign as the state ensign of the colony. Shortly before independence was granted in 1979, a competition was held to choose a new national flag. The College of Arms decided to modify this design, both the golden frigatebird and the sun were enlarged to occupy more of the top of the flag, and the width of the blue and white wavy bands was reduced. The new flag was hoisted during the independence day celebrations in the capital, Tarawa, the flag bears a very slight resemblance to the flag of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic, as well as to the flag of British Columbia, and the flag of the Company of Scotland
39.
Flag of the Marshall Islands
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The flag of the Marshall Islands, an island nation in the Pacific, was adopted upon the start of self-government, May 1,1979. The flag was designed by Emlain Kabua, who served as the first First Lady of the republic, rules and specifications regarding the flag are set forth in the Official Flag of the Marshall Islands Act 1979. The Marshall Islands were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands administered by the United States, from which the Marshall Islands, Palau, in common with other island nations in the region, this flag features the symbolic representation of the islands place within the ocean. The rising diagonal band represents the equator, the star above representing this Northern Hemisphere archipelago, the white and orange portions of the band represent, respectively, the Ratak Chain and the Ralik Chain, as well as symbolizing peace and courage. The suns 24 points represent the number of districts, while the four elongated points represent the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje. Marshall Islands at Flags of the World
40.
Flag of Nauru
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Following the independence of Nauru, the flag of Nauru was raised for the first time. The flag, chosen in a design competition, was adopted on independence day,31 January 1968. It depicts Naurus geographical position, one degree below the Equator, a gold horizontal stripe representing the Equator runs across a blue field for the Pacific Ocean. Nauru itself is symbolized by a white 12-pointed star, each point represents one of the 12 indigenous tribes on the island. The flag displays the location of the island nation. The narrow gold stripe with a width of 1⁄24 of the length of the flag represents the Equator, the twelve-pointed white star signifies the location of the island in the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean just south of the Equator. The separation of the blue flag cloth into two equal parts recalls the saga, that the first inhabitants were to have brought to Earth from two boulders. The twelve points on the represent the islands twelve original tribes. The white represents the phosphate, through which the islands residents acquired wealth from mining, the flag was created by a resident employed by the Australian flag manufacturer Evans. It was officially adopted on 31 January 1968, unlike some flags of Pacific nations, Naurus flag has evoked little controversy
41.
Flag of New Zealand
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The flag of New Zealand is a defaced Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right. The stars pattern represents the asterism within the constellation of Crux, chosen by an assembly of Māori chiefs at Waitangi in 1834, the flag was of a St Georges Cross with another cross in the canton containing four stars on a blue field. After the formation of the colony in 1840, British ensigns began to be used, the current flag was designed and adopted for use on Colonial ships in 1869, was quickly adopted as New Zealands national flag, and given statutory recognition in 1902. For several decades there has been debate about changing the flag, in 2016, a two-stage binding referendum on a flag change took place with voting on the second final stage closing on 24 March. In this referendum, the country voted to keep the flag by 57% to 43%. The need for a flag of New Zealand first became clear when the trading ship Sir George Murray, the ship had been sailing without a flag, a violation of British navigation laws. New Zealand was not a colony at the time and had no flag, among the passengers on the ship were two high-ranking Māori chiefs, believed to be Patuone and Taonui. The ships detention was reported as arousing indignation among the Māori population, unless a flag was selected, ships could continue to be seized. The first flag of New Zealand was adopted 9 March 1834 by a made by the United Tribes of New Zealand. The United Tribes later made the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand at Waitangi in 1835, three flags were proposed, all designed by the missionary Henry Williams, who was to play a major role in the translation of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. The flag is flown on the flag pole at Waitangi. After the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the British Union Flag was used, although the former United Tribes flag was used by a number of ships from New Zealand. The New Zealand Company settlement at Wellington, for example, continued to use the United Tribes flag until ordered to replace it by Governor William Hobson in May 1840. New Zealand did not have a badge, or indeed a coat of arms of its own at this stage. In 1869 the First Lieutenant of the Royal Navy vessel Blanche, Albert Hastings Markham, submitted a design to Sir George Bowen and his proposal, incorporating the Southern Cross, was approved. It was initially used only on government ships, but was adopted as the de facto national flag, one of the first recorded accounts of the New Zealand national Blue Ensign flag being flown in battle was at Quinns Post, Gallipoli, in 1915. It was not, however, flown officially, the flag was brought back to New Zealand by Private John Taylor, Canterbury Battalion. The first time the Flag of New Zealand was flown in a naval battle, the national flag is defined in legislation as the symbol of the Realm, Government, and people of New Zealand and like most other laws, can be changed by a simple majority in Parliament
