> While watching the footy matches this week, I noticed that 2 flags were
> painted on the field at Colonial Stadium and the Gabba. One is the
> Australian flag. I don't know what the other one is. It is black on the
> top, red on the bottom, with a yellow circle in the middle.
> Does anyone know what this 2nd flag is and why it is painted on the
> field?
Last weekend was the culmination of Reconcilliation Week between the main Australian population and the Aboriginees. The second flag on the AFL grounds was the Aboriginal flag. Aboriginees, for years, have been discriminated against- including an atrocious policy 30-40 years ago of Aboriginal children being taken from their tribes, clans, families, etc. and relocated hundreds of miles away in white communities. there is a movement going on now to help the
"stolen children" find their kinsmen. Essendon Bomber Michael Long is involved with this project as his grandmother was one of these "stolen" children". Long was also one the first Aboriginal players to make a case against on-field racial villification. His stand, along with NIcky Winmar's, brought about the AFL's villification rule.
As part of the Reconcilliation activities, there was a walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Two Aboringal players, Port's Che Cockatoo-Collins and Kangaroo Winston Abraham, gave two students their playing guernseys to wear on the bridge walk.
Lisa AFANA
AFANA
Lisa Albergo
Bob