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.
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
5.
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
6.
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
7.
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
8.
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
9.
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
10.
Flag of Samoa
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The flag of Samoa was first adopted from February 24,1949 for UN Trusteeships, and continuously applied for the states independence on January 1,1962. It consists of a red field with a rectangle in the canton. The blue rectangle bears the constellation Southern Cross, four white stars. It was designed by O Au O Faleicia, prior to the First World War, Samoa was a colony of the German Empire. German colonies used the flag of the Imperial Colonial Office, a black-white-red tricolour defaced with the Imperial Eagle, New Zealand occupied German Samoa in 1914 and officially gained control of the territory in 1919. From the capture by New Zealand forces on August 29,1914, the defaced Blue Ensign was used by vessels owned by the mandate government, or those operated in the government service, while the defaced Red Ensign was used by locally registered civilian ships. Samoa at Flags of the World World Statesmen – Samoa
11.
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
12.
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
