Simon OCallaghan 6M THE DECISION

I am investigating the Australian flag and how it affected people.

1901: The Prime Minister Edmund Barton held a competition for the flag. 1903: The King Edward approved the Flag. 1909: New Flag design. 1911: Northern Territory was considered States. Edmund Barton was the prime minister at the time. The prime minister decided to give the country their own flag because during the war when Australia went to Gallipoli to fight in the war the British sent all the Australian troops to get some of the other side to die then they would come in. The plan was to wait until all the Australians die and then they would come in and hope fully win. But the Australians did not die they won that fight against Gallipoli and thats when they said they dont need to be ruled by the leader of England and they could stand on their own two feet. This happened between 1903 to the end of the war 1995. This would have affected a lot of people in Australia and England like familys and closes friends. The war would of affected a lot of familys because of lost relatives or family members that went to war and never came back it would have been really sad but some would be tears of joy for some familys because when their family came back from the war and they would be very happy. And when the Australia became one country without the great British laws it could have been a new start for some families and friends. But when the Prime Minister had a Competition for the Australian flag design. It could of changed lifes for the winners they could have been the richest people in their town or maybe the city. It could have made the people who didnt come in the top five could of felt depressed and sad they could have been very miserable they could have hated the prime minister and tried to kill him. But the people who came in the top five could have been really happy and lived to have a successful life and career. Australia was changed heaps from this decision because it was the first flag for Australia and it was when Australia became one country or one big nation and they had their own laws they were not under the British parliament. Peoples lifes were changed from this because they were used to the laws in England or great Brittan and all of a sudden the laws were changed some of the laws strayed the same peoples life styles would of changed because they would of started talking a bit different from some people because the accent would of mixed together then it comes out like the Australian accent that we have now. People would of got lost from not being used to the roads around them they would have got used to it after a while but some people could have gone to another city. The aboriginal people would have been very affected in a way because they would have taken their houses and land and they would be homeless they could of starved to death they could have had no food to feed their children. It could of gave the country a better reputation from other people in other countries that are thinking of coming to Australia for a holiday or business like there could be better jobs than other countrys at that time. Could of wanted to live in another country to get away from the war in their country and they were looking to live in Australia and they saw the Australian flag and thought they want to live there because the flag is representing the country. When people came from other countrys they could have been really recces and if they saw an aboriginal Australian they could be say some bad stuff to that person and could heart their feelings very bad. I think the choice of making a new flag was really good idea because when other people came they could think the country is not run by another country they have their own laws and their flag is very creative and they are a multicultural country because they have English people indigenous people and heaps of other people. They

Simon OCallaghan 6M
could also know that we have our own animals that you dont s ee in any other countries like the kangaroo and the Tasmanian devil maybe they got to see some of the animals and they could grow their own crops like apple trees and tomatoes I think making the flag was right to do because it represents the country becaus e people in other countrys look at the flag before actually coming to the country and it was right because it shows people that we are own country. And not someone elses country. But maybe every 100 years they should have a new contest with prize money like back in 1901 when nearly five people had identical flag designs which everyone thought was amazing. If I had the power to change the flag or hold another competition I probably would because some people want a new flag because they think the flag that we have now is old and bad and not a good design and they think they could do better witch maybe they could but if some people dont want to change it. I would maybe not change it depends were how many people wanted it to change and how many people dont want it change. I would maybe do a voting poll and make everyone vote thats over 18 and give them a card and they colour it in then I would get some people to count up the yes and nos and then they give the answers to parliament and then they would decide weather we should still change it then when they give the prime minister the answers. He could tell people at a meeting then it would probably go all over the news and ad breaks. People could get really mad when if he decides yes or no he would get hated by each way so it could be hard.