THE NEW AUSTRALIAN FLAG

Advance Australia Flags For Sale

To purchase the Advance Australia National Flag, Reconciliation Ensign or National Sporting Ensign contact: EVAN EVANS GROUP - 100 Gipps Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia. T: 1800 990 989   E: info@evanevans.com.au

 

Advance Australia National Flag 

A dark blue, forward moving, kangaroo silhouetted against a golden sky has replaced the Union Jack and Federation Star featured on the current Australian Flag. The leading edge of the kangaroo divides the flag into two distinct areas. The white stars of the Southern Cross are reversed out of a blue field, which is unchanged from the current flag.  

Ausflag supports the idea of a new flag for Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Proposed stamp design - Coat of Arms (unchanged)

Proudly Multicultural - Kevin Pappas and the Advance Australia National Flag. The Kevin Pappas character, a 'Kangaroo Greek' gentleman was created for All Australian Graffiti in 1977 by Con Aslanas. Kevin was re-illustrated holding the flag in 2005 by former AAG colleague, Geoff Cook for the exhibition, We’re a Weird Mob – Designing a Cultural Identity (All Australian Graffiti Retrospective & A Vision Unfurled), Post Master Gallery, Australia Post, Melbourne, 2005.                                                                                              

Highlighting the problem and providing a clue to the solution - Cathy Freeman wraps herself in both the Australian National and Aboriginal Flags after winning a gold medal at he 2000 Sydney Olympics in the women's 400 meters final. After the race Freeman ran a lap of honor with both flags tied together as a symbolic gesture of reconciliation.

          

The Supporting Reconciliation logo is free to be used by companies; organisations or individuals who want to publicly display their support for the reconciliation process. The logo has been designed to feature on stationary, advertising and promotional collateral.

Australian Indigenous Flags - Aboriginal Flag, Torres Straight Island Flag and the Australian Reconciliation Flag. The Australian Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islands Flag offer a reminder that there are two nations living in Australia, Indigenous and non-indigenous. Commonly known as the Australian Reconciliation Flag, the Advance Australia Reconciliation Ensign was designed to be a symbol of unity.

Australia Fare (above)- a visual commentary on Aboriginal culture, multiculturalism and Australian national identity.

Designer - Chanthra Pumarini

Consultant - Dr Lynette Russell

Photographer - Mimmo Cozzolino

Exhibition(s) - One Step Back, Two Steps Forward. Silpe Gallery, University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA and Studio 9 Gallery at the Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.

NOTE: the exhibited works were produced at cross-cultural workshops held at Monash University, Victoria, Australia and the University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA. The project was entitled MIX06 (Migrant Indigenous Exchange 2006). Robert L. Peters, Koopman Distinguished Chair in the Visual Arts, University of Hartford and Russell Kennedy, Senior Lecturer at Monash University, led the workshops. 

Collaborative interpretation of the Advance Australian Reconciliation Flag (acrylic on canvas 1m x 2m) by renowned Aboriginal artists Rodney Wharton (Margany) and Colin McKinnon-Dodd (Yamatji) for the A Vision Unfurled exhibition, Post Master Gallery, Australia Post, Melbourne, 2005.

Why the Kangaroo?

The Kangaroo is the quintessential Australian icon and is one of the few animals, which physically cannot move backwards. The Kangaroo represents advancement and unity, its posture, as depicted on the Advance Australia Flag is proudly determined; head held high, chest thrust forward and arms tucked back as kangaroos do when travelling at full flight. The unique feature of this flag is only realised when the flag itself is in motion. When hoisted in the breeze, the kangaroo animates in a perpetual bounding motion…hence “Advance Australia". 

 Internationally identifiable, the kangaroo is a representative symbol for both indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

Why Reconciliation? Australia's Aboriginal people represent the oldest continuous living culture in the world. If Australia is to acknowledge its whole history and not just its colonial past (as it must) then it is necessary to embed Australia's indigenous foundation into our most visible national symbol.

The Advance Australian Reconciliation Ensign has been designed as a potent symbol of the way ahead. It is not intended to replace the existing indigenous flags but instead to sit comfortably between them and the Australian flag until such time that reconciliation has been achieved.

Currently referred to as the Australian Reconciliation Flag, this ensign is flown all over Australia by schools, shire councils and Aboriginal communities/organisations. This flag has been officially recognised at local government level in Victoria by the Nillimbick Shire Council. In 1997 Monash University donated Australian Reconciliation Flags to every secondary college in the State of Victoria. Reconciliation is the key to building pride, self esteem and purpose. It is about creating a better country and a fair Australia for future generations of its Indigenous peoples...Advance Australia Fair! 

Why Supporting Ensigns? 

Ensign is another term for flag. It also means a flag based on another flag as seen in the colonial system. Originally an ensign was a flag flown at the stern of a ship to denote nationality, especially with naval flags. The term has extended over time to become associated with state flags and those flown by the government services on land, sea or air.  

The Advance Australian Flag concept considers the national flag as the foundation of an extended visual identity program. State territory, air force, navy, mercantile shipping and civil aviation ensigns have been redesigned to fit the national flag template. The Australian Commonwealth is united under one design with the individuality of the states, territories and services expressed through variance of colour.

This proposal also suggests the addition of ensigns for the Australian army, surf lifesaving and national sport representation. Both the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islands flags remain unchanged with the Advance Australia Reconciliation Ensign joining them as an Indigenous Australian ensign.

Critical Comment - Advance Australia

"Instantly recognisable as Australian, this flag has the potential to present a positive and distinctive image internationally and nationally. Open to multiple applications by different interest groups, it is a flag that speaks of the power of the rich diversity and questioning that constitutes Australian culture." 

Dr. Denise Whitehouse, Senior Lecturer, Design and Cultural History, Faculty of Design, Swinburne University. June 2005

The September/October 2007 (#355) issue of Communication Arts magazine contains a feature article entitled “Design down under: graphic design in the Land of Oz” written by Robert L. Peters, Canada's preeminent design commentator and principle of Circle Design. The Advance Australia Flag project features as part of an in-depth piece, which explores Australia’s unique attributes, history, culture, and current realities in relation to visual communication. 

Read/download the feature article here (2.5 MB)

 

Russell Kennedy MA, FRSA, FDIA designed the Advance Australia National Flag & Supporting Ensigns. Kennedy is an Adjunct Research Fellow at Swinburne University of Technology, Department of Design. He is also currently serving as the immediate Past President (2011-2013) of Icograda, International Council of Communication Design.