AUSTRALIA DAY
speeches - three Welcome to Country speeches , and addresses from the Governor , Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk , and Mayor Jenny Hill - and performed faultlessly throughout . Governor de Jersey complimented the Guard members on their impeccable turnout and drill . Premier Palazczuk said Australia Day was the perfect time to honour members of the Australian Defence Force . “ Australia might be the lucky country , but those cherished freedoms are not the result of luck ,” she said . “ They are a direct consequence of the sacrifice and commitment of the men and women in our Defence Force . “ Today we honour them , as we honour those who have secured and protected Australia at home , and abroad , in times of conflict , and , at times when , as Queenslanders , we go through periods of natural disasters .” She said the ADF was especially important in Townsville . “ Together with their families , Defence personnel represent about 10 per cent of Townsville ’ s population ,” she said . The Premier said the six flags were raised on Australia Day in an act of national solidarity recognising the vital role the Defence Force played protecting , defending and aiding the country ’ s citizens . The flags raised were the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags , the Governor ’ s Standard , the Townsville City Council flag , the Queensland flag and the Australian National Flag . “ Australia Day is a celebratiuon of camaraderie and mateship and no organisation exhibits those qualities better than the ADF ,” Ms Palazczuk said .
Raising the Australian National Flag
20 | FEBRUARY 2017