Last modified: 2005-04-02 by jonathan dixon
Keywords: australia | flag of state | centenary flag | southern cross | stars: southern cross | stars: 7 points | stripe: red |
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On 13 September 2001 the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Peter Hollingworth, proclaimed the Centenary Flag Warrant under Section 6 of the Flags Act (Commonwealth Gazette No. S382, 20 September 2001). The Centenary Flag is the flag presented on 3 September 2001 to the Prime Minister by the Australian National Flag Association at the flag centenary celebration - Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne. It is a fully sewn, satin, Australian flag, inscribed with a special flag centenary message. This flag has an embellishment - a cardinal red stripe to represent the crimson thread of kinship' that stands at the heart of the Australian federation. It is used as Australia's official flag of state at important national events.
The first time Australia's flag of state represented the country overseas
was on 11 November 2003, at the opening of the Australian War Memorial in
Hyde Park, London by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Raymond Morris, 19 Feb 2005
In some sense, the centenary flag is particular Australian national flag of special importance, rather than a separate flag. The Governor-General did not proclaim it as a flag of Australia under section 5 of the Flags Act, but warranted its use by the commonwealth and state governments. I guess the reason this was necessary is because of the headband with inscription and red stripe. At any rate, it is used under warrant as a defacement of the national flag under section 6 of the Flags Act.
Here is the text of the warrant, from the Australian National Flag Association site:
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette Number S382
I, PETER JOHN HOLLINGWORTH, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and under section 6 of the Flags Act 1953, authorise the Governments of the Commonwealth and of each of the States and Territories, to use, on ceremonial occasions, the Centenary Flag described in the Schedule.
Signed and sealed with the Great Seal of Australia on 13 September 2001
PETER HOLLINGWORTH, Governor-General
Schedule
The Centenary Flag is the flag presented on 3 September to the Prime Minister by the Australian National Flag Association, being an Australian National Flag with a white headband incorporating:
"The Centenary Flag. Presented to the Hon John Howard MP, Prime Minister of Australia on behalf of the people of Australia by the Australian National Flag Association on 3 September 2001 at the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne to commemorate the first flying of the Australian National Flag on 3 September 1901 attended by the Rt Hon Sir Edmund Barton MHR, Prime Minister of Australia.".
- a cardinal red stripe; and
- the following inscription: