Celebrate Australian Flag Day
John Hartvigsen
For more than a century, Aussies have sung “Waltzing Matilda” as they carried Australia’s blue ensign flag bearing the seven-pointed Commonwealth Star along with the five stars of the Southern Cross constellation.
The song, written in the 1890s and the Australian Flag adopted in 1901 joined to foster patriotism as soldiers fought in wars often far from their homeland. The song and flag identified brave Australian fighting men the world over.
Australia’s beautiful flag turns 119 on September 3, 2020.
As with many nations that once formed the British Empire, the inclusion of the Union Jack has drawn criticism. This is a question for Australians and not for outsider flag redesigns advocates.
Today is Australian Flag Day commemorating the flag’s adoption on September 3rd of 1901. Join with me in celebrating this land Down Under on this the Australian Flag’s 119th birthday:
Australian soldiers marching on a Pucapunyal Camp road in 1940, which has been a training base beginning during WWI.
- Appreciate the flag’s beauty and history.
- Listen to a rendition of “Waltzing Matilda” at the link— https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ52jOcXlfc that is set against inspiring photographs illustrating the song.
- Listen to Mirusia Louwerse, known as “The Angel of Australia,” sing “I Am Australian” at the link—https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtpBUQoVups , which tells the story of his island continent.
- This moving song is worth a second hearing at the link—https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY_tl-N93AY presented as a sing along by “the many” who “are Australian.
ABC Australia created a stirring “WE Are One” sing along.