Torres Strait Flag Day a nod to proud history

Warmed by the sun with the smell of the salt air and the blue waters of the Torres Strait framing the ceremony, Torres Shire Council hosted the 2023 Torres Strait Flag Day on Monday, MC’d by Deputy Mayor Cr Gabriel Bani.

The day began with the raising of the flag on Victoria Parade by the son the late Bernard Namok (Senior).

Bernard Namok Jnr reminded everyone the flag his father designed had flown in the Federal Parliament in Canberra and State parliaments throughout Australia, in government and public buildings throughout the length and breadth of the country, as well as on Australian embassies around the world.

“I was at the United Nations in New York and am very proud that the flag is flown there and that Dad’s vision has been realised in bringing our flag, the Torres Strait flag, to the world,” he said.

The sounds of the bu shell then went with a march to ANZAC Park where Torres Shire Council Mayor Yen Loban welcomed the community to the ceremony.

He reminded everyone of the importance of the upcoming national referendum to enshrine the Voice to Parliament in the constitution.

“I invite you to join with me and vote ‘Yes’ at the referendum,” he said.

Other speakers included Torres Strait Island Regional Council Deputy Mayor Cr Getano Lui, who was an original member of the Island Coordinating Council (ICC). He explained the history of the fight for self-determination from the ICC until this day: from the 1936 maritime strike to the first Islanders Conference at Masig Island in 1937, to the creation of the only entirely Indigenous battalion in the 1940s to defend the Torres Strait during