TODAY Senator Matthew Canavan, and Michelle Landry MP have put their support behind an initiative from Mark Woltmann President of the AFS Men’s Shed Inc and their pilot program of Flagging Our National Pride. This initiative would grow national pride by helping people to install flagpoles in their yards and provide an Australian flag for people to fly to help improve national pride.

The support comes ahead of National Flag Day this Saturday.

“Australia is one of the greatest nation’s in the world. The showcasing of our national flag is a way of showing gratitude for how lucky we are to have been born here or moved here.

“We should be showing pride in our nation, and what better way to do that than to fly a flag in your front yard?

“Mark’s idea would make it that much more accessible for people to show their support for our great nation, and if his pilot program is successful, it could be a model that gets extended out further.” Senator Canavan said.

National Flag Day is on September 3 each year to commemorate the first time the Australian flag was flown on 3 September 1901 at the Exhibition Building in Melbourne. People are encouraged to fly the nation’s flag to commemorate the day.

“The Flagging Our National Pride is a terrific program that really allows members of the community to show pride and respect for the Australian flag and our great nation, by flying the national flag in your front yard.

“Many Australians of all ages have fought in conflicts under the national flag, and this is very significant to many Australians who hold a deep respect for the flag.

“This is a great initiative from the AFS Men’s Shed and I would encourage people to support Mark and through making a nominal donation to the AFS Men’s Shed, receive a flagpole to fly the flag,” Ms Landry said.

The proposed pilot program has been costed at $30,000 in grant funding and would act as a proof of concept for a potentially larger scale rollout.

AFS Men’s Shed President Mark Woltmann said that “The huge and ever-increasing numbers of people attending Anzac Dawn Services, is a simple indicator of how proud we are to be part of such a wonderful nation with such a great heritage.  What better way to express our national pride, than having our national flag flying in one’s yard and seen right across our communities.

“The AFS Men’s Shed members have the required skills for such a project.  The guys are always keen to “give back and support” the local community which in turn consistently supports our important health and wellbeing support service model for men.”