Aboriginal Flag

Artist Harold Thomas, a Luritja man from central Australia, designed the Aboriginal flag symbolising race and identity. It was first flown in 1971 on National Aboriginal and Islander Day in Adelaide, South Australia.

The black stripe represents the Aboriginal people, past, present and future. The red stripe represents the earth, and their spiritual connection to the land. It also represents the earth pigment ochre, used in Aboriginal ceremonies. The circle of yellow represents the sun which is the source of life.

Torres Strait Islander Flag

This flag was designed by the late Bernard Namok of Thursday Island and was launched in 1992. The flag symbolises the unity and identity of the Torres Strait Islander people. The green stripes represent the land, the blue represents the waters of the Torres Strait and the black stripes represent the people.

A white dharri (a traditional head-dress) and a five-pointed white star symbolise the island groups: eastern, western, central, Port Kennedy area and the Northern Peninsula area. The star is an important symbol for navigating the sea and symbolises the peace of the people.

Images from Wikipedia
Resource: www.melbourne.vic.gov.au

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About the author

After two years overseas discovering Irish family and foreign cultures, Rebecca has recently returned home to Melbourne. She was inspired to share Australian culture after getting exposure to how others live through her travels.