Centuries Old Tradition of Flying Flags

ry School, a Primary School in Queanbeyan and the National Museum in Canberra to amaze an enthusiastic crowd of children and adults alike.

The weekend in Sydney saw the Sbandieratori perform at Club Marconi and even in front of the Sydney Opera House.

This is their fourth tour to Australia, following on from previous successful experiences in 1997, 2017 and 2020. Internationally, since 1974, the group has showcased in France, Spain, Austria, Hungary, Japan, Poland, Czech Republic, Serbia, Israel and the United States.

The 2023 Australian tour was organised by Com.It.Es. Can- berra, with President Francesco Barilaro hosting the group on this latest display of art and culture for the Italian-Australian and broader multicultural community.

The Flag Throwers’ presence in Leichhardt was a joint event together with Saint Patrick's Football Club. The special event in Leichhardt was in aid of a fundraiser for Beyond Blue.

It was certainly a great opportunity for the local Inner West community to experience this centuries old Italian tradition, especially at this Little Italy landmark which is interlaced into our Italian-Australian cultural heritage.

by Nick Angelucci

On the battlefield of Lambert Park in Little Italy Leichhardt, under nearing thirty-degree midday sun, handmade silk flags are thrown up high to the sound of trumpets and drums filling the stadium.

There was a sense of excitement and admiration for the men dressed in heraldic medieval uniforms with their flags flying in synchronised movements for everyone’s pleasure.

Known as Sbandieratori, these Italian Flag Throwers are skilful in their movements, performing to the rhythm provided by their accompanying musicians. The tradition dates to military use in the Medieval and Renaissance eras, where the flags are thrown long distances to ensure that they don’t fall into enemy hands.

Such capture of an enemy flag would ultimately disrupt communications between troops and orders from their leaders, ending in their demoralising defeat.

These days the military flag movements have become more artistic adding a touch of drama and suspense, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats.

This troop of nine, Sergio Nataloni, Andrea Proietti, Luca Chicconi, Dino Austeri, Marco Tabarrini, Michele Pettinelli,

Manuel Massarelli, Leonardo Francia and Leon Massi, all hail from the medieval town of San Gemini, south of the Umbria region of central Italy.

They have also performed at the Canberra Multicultural Festival, with 6 performances on the weekend, in the heart of the city.

In the Australian Capital Territory, the Flag Throwers also visited Yarralumla Prima-