Our very own Kiwi resident Emily Parker will be hoisting the New Zealand flag atop of the flag pole in Murrumburrah during the midday ANZAC Day ceremony next Tuesday. It is believed that this will be the first time this has happened in Murrumburrah.
Emily Parker will have the honour of hoisting the New Zealand flag atop the flag pole during the Murrumburrah ANZAC Day ceremony at Midday next Tuesday. Local historian, Light Horse Troop member and ANZAC Day organiser Brian Dunn approached her with the idea in 2016. Emily soon found out she had relatives who had served at Gallipoli, in the New Zealand Mounted Riflemen. The Riflemen are the equivalent of the Australian Light Horse.
Emily has been in Australia for 17 years and initially worked at Garangula before she met her husband Jamie Parker. She said “It’s quite humbling to be asked.” 3 years ago Emily and Jamie went to Gallipoli and toured the gravesides and the peninsula. She said “The younger generation are getting involved now. I was thinking about it last night and my son Tommy is now 7, there are lots of children’s books cementing the ANZAC spirit within our culture.” Emily said that the Australian flag will go up, and the New Zealand flag will go up alongside it. A rehearsal will be held on Sunday before ANZAC Day next Tuesday.
The flags of both countries look a little similar such are their close ties to the point where during the Olympics, Australians can often mistake the New Zealand flag for their own. The New Zealand flag has a Union Jack and 4 red stars on it whilst the Australian flag has a Union Jack and a large seven-pointed white star (six representing the six states of Australia and one representing the territories along with the Southern Cross. The Southern Cross is the best known and most represented star group in the Southern Hemisphere. The group’s distinctive shape is easily located because of its brightness and close proximity to each other. It can be seen all year round from almost anywhere in the Australia. The constellation is not visible in the northern hemisphere.
Brian Dunn.
Brian had to purchase a new Australian flag after he received the New Zealand flag from the embassy which was beautifully constructed. He bought a new Australian flag so that the quality would be equally matched. Emily said “Brian holds a special place in everyone’s heart in town. The effort he puts in and everything he does to keep the ANZAC memory alive is amazing.”
Emily said “They came of age as countries when they served together, whilst we may be fierce rivals on the sporting field, I think we are brothers in arms. Putting all the jokes around sport aside, Aussies and Kiwis are greats mates. In Christchurch during the earthquake, which is my home town, it was clear how many Australians came out and helped.”
