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Citizenship Day

17 September 2015

Today, 17 September is Australian Citizenship Day.

I was pleased to mark the occasion by hosting a citizenship ceremony at Government House.

This ceremony was attended by a number of members of the community who have also received Australian citizenship over the past 12 months.

Since Citizenship Day last year I have been honoured to host six citizenship ceremonies on Norfolk Island, conferring citizenship on 13 members of our community, adding to our modern nation of people from the four corners of the earth.

Citizenship Day was introduced in 2001. It is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate and value Australian citizenship.

Today on Citizenship Day, and indeed every day of the year, the Australian National Flag and the Norfolk Island Flag have been proudly flown at Government House.

The flagpole at Government House is a special type of flagpole known as a “yardarm”. It has its own history which is worth knowing.

The flag pole is recorded as having been part of the mast of the Norwegian sailing vessel Ho Ho, which was driven ashore by storms on Norfolk Island in 1935. The vessel was repaired and continued its journey, with the mast brought to Government House where it remains in its prominent position.

The protocols for flying the Australian National Flag can be found in part 2 of the ‘Australian Flags’ booklet.

The Hon Gary Hardgrave