A New Australian Flag

This is my design for an Australian Flag. My aim was to create a flag that maintains the links with our history, with our settled and aboriginal heritage and yet is a striking and inspiring symbol. More than anything, it had be identifiable as uniquely Australian, and for all Australians.

 Symbolism

The continuity with our current flag is retained with the Southern Cross appearing in a familar form on a blue background. It has been tilted to be more realistic, and with larger stars, to improve visibility on the flag from a distance.

The boomerang gives the flag a uniquely Australian identity and symbolises the links with the Aboriginal people. The boomerang is in the throwing position, symbolically aiming for the stars.

The 7 pointed Federation star represents the symbol of our democracy, with the points for the six original states and one point for all future states and territories, and is given pride of place at the canton of the flag. The blue and gold also represent Australia's traditional Heraldic Colours, taken from the torse of Australia's Coat of Arms.

But also, the Federation Star can be identified with the Aboriginal "giver of life", the Sun, and the red boomerang representing the earth. So this is also a reconciliation flag. Reconciliation is seen with the boomerang pointing the way from the past to the future under Southern Skies. It also occurs with the transition of the colours across the flag from the red and yellow of the Aboriginal Flag to the red, white and blue of the European colours.

This design can also be easily used to create a new system of flags for the States of Australia.

Flag designs © October 2000 Ross Carter

It really irked me during the Sydney Olympics when the flag we waved so fervently contained the flag of another country. I wanted a flag that immediately could be identified as our own Australian Flag, without historical baggage. I had looked at the Ausflag web site and others for a solution, but didn't find anything that grabbed my imagination. So I thought I'd have a go at creating my own design. My logic followed these lines: most people seemed to want our existing flag but without the Union Jack. That is, the Southern Cross would remain on the familar blue background, and also the Federation Star. But a flag with only these elements, even with different colours seemed rather bland, and didn't yell out at you that it was "Australian". So what symbol could be added to do this? I don't think that many people want a kangaroo or other animal on the flag. So to me the answer was the boomerang. It adds that splash of colour back into the flag, and converts the design into a reconciliation design. And to me, when you see it, it stands out as Australian. As a country we are exceedingly slow in asserting our own identity, free from our origins as part of Great Britain; be it with our law and government system, our national anthem; or our flag. This is my contribution towards the push to get a new flag.

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