Australian National Flag DAY
Lesson Resources
National Flag Day
lesson planning
Australian National Flag Day commemorates the day in 1901 on which the Australian National Flag was first flown. The event took place at the Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne in the presence of Australia’s first Prime Minister Edmund Barton. Following are classroom activities to recognise and celebrate National Flag Day – 3 September.
The Lesson: Part 1
Collect a variety of material on the subject of the Australian National Flag. In the days leading up to 3 September, provide students with details of Internet and the other resources you’ve collected to learn more about the Australian National Flag. Some official Australian government websites are:
http://www.parliament.curriculum.edu.au
http://www.pm.gov.au/aust_focus/nat_symbols
http://www.itsanhonour.gov.auhttp://www.curriculum.edu.au/democracy
The Lesson: Part 2
Ask students to record in their notebooks any facts they find that they didn’t know before about the flag or National Flag Day. Set aside a special time a day or two before National Flag Day for students to share the facts they’ve collected. Those facts might include a few of the following:
Fact 1
In 1901 the Federal government held a design competition to find a flag for the new Australian nation. The competition received 32,823 entries from Australia and overseas. At an official ceremony on 3 September 1901 the Prime Minister of Australia, Edmund Barton, announced that five entrants, who had submitted similar designs, were to share the honour of being declared the designers of Australia’s own flag. Information about these individuals can be found at http://www.australianflag.org.au. One of the designers of the Australian flag was Ivor Evans, a 14 year old schoolboy.
Fact 2
The Australian National Flag flew over the site for the national capital in 1908. Today it is the only national flag that flies, or has ever flown, over an entire continent.
Fact 3
The Australian Army officially adopted the Australian flag as its saluting flag in 1911. The Royal Australian Navy was formed in 1911 and all of its warships have used the Australian flag since then.
Fact 4
Over the last 100 years Australia’s flag has travelled to many locations around the world in the custody of our soldiers during war and conflict. Learn more about the ANZAC Tradition at http://www.australianflag.org.au/anzactradition.php.
Fact 5
Australian National Flag Day was observed for the first time in 1984 at Hyde Park, Sydney. It was the 83rd anniversary of the first flying of Australia’s flag of “Stars and Crosses”.
Fact 6
In 1996, the Governor General, Sir William Deane, officially established Australian National Flag Day as an annual national celebration. Download a copy of the proclamation from www.australianflag.org.au/flagday.php. The Australian National Flag belongs equally to all Australians. Discuss why returned servicemen in particular might have strong feelings about a special day to celebrate the national flag.
Fact 7
The Australian National Flag has been used to represent our athletes at every Olympic games since London in 1908. Australia has played host to the Olympic games on two occasions, Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000.
Fact 8
The flag that flies over parliament house in Canberra measures 12.8 by 6.4 metres. The flag pole cost $4.4 million to manufacture in 1988. It is one of the biggest stainless steel structures in the world, weighing 220 tonnes and reaching 81 metres high!
Australian National Flag DAY
Important Facts & Lesson Ideas
What is National Flag Day?
The Australian Flag was first flown at the Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne on 3rd September 1901, in the presence of the first Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Edmund Barton and Lady Hopetoun, wife of our first Governor-General. Australian National Flag Day was formally proclaimed on 3 September, 1996 as an annual celebration.
The centenary of The Flag was commemorated on 3 September 2001. The 100th anniversary of National Flag Day and the original ceremony involved an enactment of the original flag raising ceremony by Prime Minister John Howard, MP, at the Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne.
Each school throughout Australia is encouraged to hold a special ceremony and/or flag raising to commemorate Australian National Flag Day on 3 September.
Who designed the Australian flag?
Did you know that one of the 5 people credited with the design of the Australian national flag was a Victorian schoolboy?
Which other countries use the Union Jack in their flag?
To find out what other countries use the Union Jack in their flag go to: http://www.thecommonwealth.org/
Lesson idea: Describe their flags and explain why they include the Union Jack.
The Aboriginal people and the Torres Strait Islander people use which flag?
The Aboriginal people and the Torres Strait Islander people have ‘proclaimed flags’.
Lesson idea: Describe these two flags and explain their significance.
What is the Commonwealth of Nations?
There are 54 member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Lesson idea: As a class, students discuss what the Commonwealth is, its purpose and list possible member nations. Students can check their answers and find out about the flags of these countries by visiting : http://www.thecommonwealth.org/. Use this information to develop a world map showing the location of Commonwealth countries.
On what official occasions, other than National Flag Day, do we fly the Australian flag?
There are 7 other special days that are official flag flying days other than National Flag Day on 3rd September.
Lesson idea: Students should discuss what these other days are. Investigate the significance of these days.
When and why do we fly the Australian flag?
Flags are used in Australia to demonstrate our national identity. We use it at patriotic ceremonies and at public occasions such as at the Olympic Games. Public buildings such as the Melbourne Town Hall, Parliament House and the Governor’s residence fly our flag.
Lesson idea: Brainstorm all the different places you have seen the Australian flag flying. Find out what it means when the flag is flown upside down. Why is the flag sometimes flown at half-mast? Use this information to check students’ answers and include important additional data.
What are our national and state Coats of Arms and emblems?
The Australian Commonwealth Coat of Arms was granted by the Sovereign and fulfills traditional purposes. It is an emblem signifying the national unity of Australia and serves as a sign of identity and authority. ‘Arms’ consist of distinctive objects arranged in significant ways to distinguish the owner of the particular Coat of Arms. The grant of arms to individuals, organisations, towns and states has its origins as a mark of royal favour dating back to the Middle Ages. The complex and stylised art of arranging arms in systematic ways to express identity is known as heraldry. To find out about the Coats of Arms and the emblems of Australia and states and territories go to: http://fed.gov.au/emblems.htm.
Lesson idea: Describe the national coat of arms and flora and fauna emblems of Australia. Ask students to find out where each of these flora and fauna emblems can be found in Australia.
How was the Patriotic Ceremony conducted in 1901?
In 1901, once a week, children were organised into the form of a hollow square facing the flagpole. [The Victorian “Education Gazette and Teachers’ Aid” outlined the procedure]: “When, at a given signal, the flag is run up, the boys should salute, and the girls stand to attention. Then all, placing the right hand on the left breast, should say the following words simultaneously:-
‘I love God and my country; I honour the flag; I will serve the King, and cheerfully obey my parents, teachers, and the laws.’
Immediately afterwards, taking the time from the teacher, or some one appointed for the purpose, three cheers for the King should be given, the boys uncovering their heads.”
[One would expect similar ceremonies to have been held in each state]
Resources: The following materials are available from Ausinfo: Emblems of Australia Poster, Woolworths Ltd, Ausinfo. (Ausinfo Catalogue Number 9925872). Flags and Emblems of Australia, Simon and Schuster, Ausinfo,1995. (Ausinfo Cat No 9616918). The Australian Flags Book, Commonwealth of Australia, 1999 (Ausinfo Cat No 9812583). Acknowledgement: This is a shortened version of a Project Sheet prepared by the Victorian Education Department for its Centenary of Federation “Federation 100 Projects”.
Australian National Flag
Paint Your Own Flag
By now you’ve probably read all about Ivor Evans, the Schoolboy who was one of the five designers of our Australian flag back in 1901.
Ivor decided to use the stars of the Southern Cross because they were only visible in the Southern Hemisphere. In fact, the Southern Cross is the brightest constellation in our southern skies, So Ivor thought it would make a good symbol of Australia’s bright future. He also liked the Southern Cross because the stars stand for the virtues of justice, prudence, temperance and fortitude. In other words the Australian National Flag displays symbols which can inspire us to be fair to others, to carefully plan for our future by improving our knowledge, to build healthy bodies and to form strong and positive characters.
The large star below the Union Jack is called the Federal or Commonwealth Star. This seven pointed star stands for the six states and the territories of Australia. The Union Jack represents Australia’s history and heritage.
