Flag equality now standard

Waverley Council unanimously passed a motion moved by Cr Dominic Wy Kanak in December to ensure the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags are flown with the other ceremonial flags around the Waverley Park cenotaph during Remembrance Day ceremonies.

The motion also called on the council to extend invitations to the Coloured Diggers Co-ordinators to be included in the planning of all military service commemoration events.

The flags have been flown at recent events held at the Hyde Park ANZAC Memorial attended by NSW Governor Marie Bashir and Federal Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffith.

In an emotional address to the council, Jeanie Bartley expressed her anger that the flags are not flown in the same manner as the others. She said the outcome of the council’s discussion was a step in the right direction.

Ms Bartley had earlier said that since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s ‘Sorry’ speech, she “could breathe for the first time”.

Indigenous Australians have served with the Australian military since the First Boer War in 1880, but the first Coloured Diggers March was not held until 2007.

Having served in every conflict Australia has been involved in since 1880, Indigenous diggers stood shoulder to shoulder with their non-Indigenous compatriots but have not received the same remuneration and treatment at the completion of their service.

There is no set protocol outlined for the flying of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands flags at military commemoration services, including ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. However it is usual practice to fly the flags for many ceremonies.

– By Emma James