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The Torres Strait Islands flag
The Torres Strait Islander Flag was created as a symbol of unity and identity for Torres Strait Islander peoples, designed by the late Bernard Namok, then a 15 year old school student from Thursday Island.
It was the winning entry from a design competition held as part of a Cultural Revival Workshop, organised by The Islands Co-ordinating Council in January 1992. The flag was recognised by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission in June 1992 and given equal prominence with the Aboriginal flag.
In July 1995, it was recognised by the Australian Government as an official 'Flag of Australia' under the Flags Act 1953.
Symbolic Meaning
Each part of the flag is designed to represent something about Torres Strait Island
culture.
- Green: Represents the land
- Blue: Represents the sea
- White: Represents peace
- Black: Represents the Indigenous peoples
The dhari (headdress) represents Torres Strait Island people and the five pointed star
represents the 5 major Island groups. The star also represents navigation, as a symbol
of the seafaring culture of the Torres Strait.
The Island Co-ordinating Council also chose the design as its simplicity would allow
each Torres Strait community to incorporate their own emblem into the design for
local identification.
Copyright
For guidance on the use and reproduction of the Torres Strait Islander Flag, contact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission - National Media and Marketing Office or the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
To purchase the Torres Strait Islander Flag, contact a Government Info shop in any Capital city. For addresses for each of these State Offices see the website www.flags2000.com.au (under Australian stockists).