National spokesperson John Vaughan | Founded 5 October 1983 | |
Headquarters ANFA (NSW) Inc
245 Castlereagh Street
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
2000 | ||
The Australian National Flag Association (ANFA) was launched in New South Wales at a public meeting in Sydney on 5 October 1983 to oppose suggestions that the existing Australian National Flag is not appropriately representative of the nation, and should be changed, with the late Sir Colin Hines elected as founding President. The controlling Council of Management is elected at each Annual General Meeting, operating under a government approved constitution. In addition, there are currently autonomous, state-based body corporates operating as chapters in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia. There is an informal congress of state presidents which convenes infrequently to, among other things, appoint a "national spokesperson" for the organisations.
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The aims and objectives of the New South Wales based association are:
Prominent Australians who are members of the association include John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull.
In 2003 the Australian Capital Territory branch of the ANFA was renamed as the Australian Flag Society.
Australian National Flag Day
In 1984 the ANFA staged the first Australian National Flag Day ceremony at Hyde Park in Sydney. The proposal for a special anniversary for the Australian National Flag was originally made by vexillographer and historian John Christian Vaughan.
On 28 August 1996, the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Sir William Deane, issued a proclamation from Government House, Canberra which officially proclaimed 3 September as Australian National Flag Day to "commemorate the day in 1901 on which the Australian national flag was first flown".
Each year the association arranges 3 September celebrations in capital cities and provincial centres.
Centenary Flag
On the centenary of the first flying of the flag, 3 September 2001, the ANFA presented the Prime Minister with a flag intended to replace the missing original flag. This flag was not a replica of the original flag, on which the Commonwealth Star had only six points, but was a current Australian National Flag with a seven pointed Commonwealth Star. The flag has a special headband, including a cardinal red stripe and with an inscription.
A warrant authorising the use of the Centenary Flag under section 6 of the Flags Act was issued by the Governor-General and the flag is now used as the official flag of state on important occasions. These included the opening of new parliamentary terms and when visiting heads of state arrive. The flag has been transported across the country for flying in every state and territory. It was later used on Remembrance Day in 2003 for the opening of the Australian War Memorial in Hyde Park in London.
Centenary Flag Warrant
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
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: a cardinal red stripe; and the following inscription:
"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.".