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KEEP OUR FLAG FLYING

He is a 72 year old Naval Veteran and he lives in Launceston, Tasmania. Normally he is a law-abiding citizen and is a proud Aussie.

A very short time after our Nation celebrated Australia Day, this man, Ian Garwood, was fined by the Launceston  City Council for flying the Australian flag.

I watched an interview on TV as Mr. Garwood stated to the reporter that he had, on behalf of his country, fought for and under this flag. Now the city in which he lived, was going to fine him for flying it. 

The council has warned Mr. Garwood that to continue to fly the Australian flag can incur a fine or jail sentence.  Mr. Garwood is prepared to go to jail.

The council’s reason for stepping to solidly on Mr. Garwood’s toes is that he has not obtained permission to fly the said flag on his premises.  It seems that many Australian Councils require one to submit a Development application (DA) to erect a flagpole.  In this case Mr. Garwood has omitted to do that.

I wonder how many other flagpoles are illegal in this great country in which we live?

From the way the public around Australia has reacted to the Council dealing with Mr. Garwood, it might pay them to think twice on how they deal with such matters in future. Threatening an elderly man is not quite the Aussie style,  is it?

- Carla Evans

Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. & The Veterans Coalition - Australia

P O Box 183 Nairne, SA 5252

"An organization succeeds, not because it is long-established,
but because there are people in it who live it, sleep it, dream it,
and build future plans for it."