May 30, 2019
A flag representing one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures will now fly proudly alongside the flags of Australia, Queensland and the South Burnett in Kingaroy’s Glendon Street forecourt.
The Aboriginal Flag was officially raised for the first time on Wednesday morning as part of Reconciliation Week activities, but will remain now as a permanent fixture outside the Council Chambers.
It will be raised every day in acknowledgement of the bonds between the modern-day South Burnett and the Indigenous peoples who cared for the land for thousands of years before Europeans arrived.
The announcement was made by South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell at this year’s Reconciliation Week ceremony on Wednesday in front of a 120-strong audience.
Mayor Campbell said the Council had recently added a fourth flagpole to the forecourt to allow it to fly the Aboriginal flag.
During special occasions – such as Reconciliation Week or NAIDOC Week – the Torres Strait Islander flag will also be hoisted, temporarily replacing the South Burnett flag.
The Mayor said the South Burnett shared borders with Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council and wanted to work closely with it to forge a strong relationship.
“Today marks a significant upgrade of the respect and co-operation shared between our two Councils,” he said.
“This flag-raising signifies and cements this.”
The Reconciliation Week ceremony was attended by many Cherbourg Elders and Mayor Arnold Murray, who performed the Welcome To County to open the day’s proceedings.
The raising of the four flags in unison was carried out by students from Kingaroy State High School.
South Burnett councillors and a large group of South Burnett Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation (SBATSIC) members also witnessed the occasion.
SBATSIC was formed to represent the interests of Indigenous people who live in the South Burnett Regional Council’s area. This year the group will be organising Kingaroy’s NAIDOC Week celebrations in early July.
Afterwards, the audience was entertained by a short performance from Kingaroy State High School’s Sista Girls dance troupe before the event concluded with a community morning tea.
