Naval Historical Society of Australia
Preserving Australia's Naval History
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Australia’s Maritime and Heritage Flags
Wed 14 Feb, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
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Overview:
“Australian Maritime and Heritage Flags” and covers the evolution of the designs of other flags which lead to the unique public competition in 1901 to create our national flag of ‘Stars and Crosses’.
John describes the design of flags past and present with the rationale behind them. He will also talk on the significance and role of Australian National Flag.
John shows a variety of some twenty historically important flags during his address. His own designs are numerous and include the First Fleet Re-Enactment Suit of Colours, Lord Howe Island, Dangar Island, Scotland Island, Willoughby City, Sydney Ferries, Anglican Flag of Australia, Greater Sydney, Australian Christmas, and the Red Wine Pennant. Australia’s first Southern Cross flag designs of 1823/24, 1831, 1851 and 1853 will be displayed.
His flag collection was featured on the ABC TV series, “Collectors”.
Presenter – John Vaughan
John Vaughan is a Vexillographer and is considered to be Australia’s leading authority on the design, etiquette, protocol, and history of flags. He has been chief executive of the Royal Australian Historical Society and was appointed by Sir Colin Hines OBE to help launch the Australian National Flag Association (ANFA NSW) in 1983. Founder and managing director of AUSTRALIANA FLAGS, 1973 – 2017.
Appointed Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021 OAM, Order of Australia Medal for ‘Service to Vexillography and History Preservation’ Life Member of the Order of Australia Association.
John served as President of ANFA for many years and proposed the concept of Australian National Flag Day at the inaugural public meeting in 1983. After thirteen years of active lobbying, Governor-General, Sir William Deane proclaimed Flag Day, 3 September as an annual National Day of Commemoration. Since 2008, 3 September, Flag Day has also been proclaimed as Australian Merchant Navy Day when the Australian Red Ensign, the ‘National Colours’ afloat, maybe flown on land in commemoration of service and sacrifice of Australia’s Merchant Navy personnel in wartime and times of emergency.
John spends much of his time speaking on the history and meaning of flags having given more than 5,000 talks, many radio/television interviews and participated in a number of flag debates. Since 1973 he has been making flags specialising in replica historical flags of Australasia. John was the driving force for the new replica signal mast at Sydney Observatory, Fort Phillip Signal Station.