All set for Aboriginal flag to be hoisted at council chambers

Local Aboriginal man, Lewy Griffiths, presented Mayor Lilliane Brady with an Aboriginal flag at the Australia Day celebrations this year. The flag will now be flown at the Council Chambers alongside the Australian flag.

The Aboriginal flag will soon be flying alongside the Australian flag at the Council Chambers.

Cobar Shire Council’s general manager Peter Vlatko said it was a plan that had been in the wind for some time and was now finally coming to fruition.

“Flying the Aboriginal flag at the council administration building will symbolise
council’s respect or understanding of our heritage here, our local heritage,” Mr Vlatko said.

Mr Vlatko said he met with local Indigenous leaders last year to discuss the idea of raising the Aboriginal flag alongside the Australian flag at the Council Chambers.

“Lewy Griffiths presented mayor Lilliane Brady with an Aboriginal flag at the Australia Day celebrations as the pool this year.”

Mr Vlatko said council installed two new flag poles at the front of the council office earlier this year and had planned for staff to start raising the Aboriginal flag along side the Australian flag each day.

He said the Aboriginal community had requested that the event be made into a public celebration, which is set down for next Friday.

“Most council administration buildings have three flags, the Australian flag, their council flag and their Aboriginal flag,” Mr Vlatko said.

Council however doesn’t have its own flag and will only be flying two flags each day.

“Council is very happy for it to happen,” Mr Vlatko said.

“It shows the intention of our community to recognise the indigenous people in this region.”