Chronicle, The; Toowoomba, Qld., Jan 25, 2010
IN the lead up to Australia Day reporter STUART CUMMING spoke to patriotic Toowoomba residents who fly the Australian flag at their homes.
He met with these residents to find out why they fly the Australian flag.
Pride in nation
THE more Australian flags Glen Pomfrett sees flying in Toowoomba the happier he will be.
He flies the Australian flag in front of his James Street house in view of passing motorists to try to instil some pride in people for the nation he loves.
The 59 year-old furniture removalist said there used to be more flags on display in Toowoomba when he was growing up.
He said he had noticed an increase in the amount of flags at people’s houses in recent years but wanted to see more businesses flying the flag.
“We sit around on Australia Day having a few beers and a barbeque and yet the only flag you see around is at the town hall,” Mr Pomfrett said.
He called on some of the multinational companies to show a bit more pride in the country they had set up in.
“If it wasn’t for Australia they wouldn’t be here.”
“Let’s start flying our Australian flags and be proud of who we are.”
“Everyone should be proud of Australia.”
Respect for patriotism
RESPECT for the patriotism of Americans is the driving force behind Bob and Pat Hooper’s determination to proudly display the Australian flag.
The Hooper’s were very impressed by the amount of flags on display while visiting their son in the United States.
They are proud Australians through and through and Mr Hooper said Australians needed to be more patriotic.
“America is a very proud nation and I feel we should have that here,” Mr Hooper said.
“We had planned to put a flag pole in before we went to the States but the visit inspired us even more.”
The Hoopers are members of a Mini car club and plan to spend tomorrow on a club drive.
Mrs Hooper said they flew the American flag because their son Daniel now lived there.
Their Hursley Road property is rarely without a breath of wind which is great for displaying the flags but not so good for the life of the material.
“They only last about six months with all the wind we get here,” Mrs Hooper said.
Proud of ancestors
IT is on special occasions like tomorrow Ramsay Street residents Ted and Merle Taylor let their true colours fly.
Mrs Taylor said she enjoyed learning the protocol for flying the Australian flag on important occasions like Anzac Day and Australia Day.
“It must go up in the morning and come down in the evening and never be allowed to touch the ground,” Mrs Taylor said.
She said the flag and Australia Day represented everything her ancestors had done to build the nation and the men who fought for it at war.
“I’m proud of our ancestors; it is thanks to them that I have got such a good life.”
The Taylors have lived at Ramsay Street for 50 years but the flagpole in their front yard only went up about six years ago.
Mr Taylor said he had wanted one for a long time and was pleased when he saw one advertised at an auction.
Mrs Taylor said she was a child during World War II and still got emotional when she saw the flag raised on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.
“It is our freedom; it is everything we have got.”
– The Australian Flag came into being after the federation of the Australian States into the Commonwealth on January 1, 1901.
– The Commonwealth Blue Ensign was selected after a competition in which more than 30,000 designs were submitted.
– The flag was not given Royal assent and adopted as the definitive Australian flag until 1954.
– The present flag consists of three main elements: The Union Jack, the Southern Cross and the Commonwealth Star or Star of Federation.
It is our freedom; it is everything we have got.
— Merle Taylor
