![[Flag 1970-1971 (Papua New Guinea)]](../images/p/pg1970.gif)
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by Mark Sensen
Last modified: 2019-08-06 by ian macdonald
Keywords: papua and new guinea | new guinea | stars: 5 (white) | southern cross | stars: southern cross | bird of paradise |
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by Mark Sensen
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From the Flags of Paradise 1996 chart:
1970-1971: Australian Trust Territory: vertical triband, blue with white Crux Australis [southern cross], yellow, red with white paradise bird.(but Dorling Kindersley 1997 reports a golden paradise bird).
1971-1975: Australian Self Government: current national flag.
1975-: Independent state: current national flag.
Both Dorling Kindersley 1997 and Barraclough and Crampton 1981, page 213, report the stripes being blue, white and green, but the correct colours were: blue, yellow and green. Sources:
Mark Sensen, 14 August 2001
Barraclough and Crampton 1978 and
1981 state "In
1970 the Australian Administration tried to introduce another divided
vertically: blue at the hoist with the stars of the Southern Cross as in the
Australian flag, then white, then green with the yellow bird of paradise. This
was never popular and the matter was left to the House of Assembly."
David Prothero, 24 November 2005
The Papua New Guinea Association of Australia (originally formed by retired
public servants from the territorial administrations), has a page with an
account from Geoff Littler, who was the Deputy Executive Officer of the House of
Assembly's Select Committee on Constitutional Development at
http://www.pngaa.net/Independence_Anniversary/crest_flag_origin.htm,
published for the 30th anniversary of independence in 2005.
The
committee called for public submissions regarding the flag, and Mr. Holman, an
artist with the Dept of Information and Extension Services, designed a flag and
emblem using the most popular colours and symbols - blue, gold, green, and
birds, drums, spears and stars.
The flag, crest, and name 'Pagini' were presented to the House of Assembly on 17 November 1970 as a proposal which would be taken around the country for feedback. The symbolism of the flag was given as:
The BLUE represents the islands of our country and the sea, which surrounds them. The Cross lies above our whole country and guides our people in their travel on land and sea.The response to the flag was negative. Mr Littler says "Mostly they regarded the design as a mechanically contrived outcome designed by the Select Committee and not produced by a real person", and I think we can see what they meant. (Putting charges on the outer stripes and leaving the middle empty doesn't result in a unified flag.)
The GOLD represents the coastal areas of our country, its past and future mineral wealth and unity.
The GREEN represents the mainland and highland areas of our country and a Bird of Paradise, our unique bird, is turned towards the islands to represent one unified country.
The proposal was described as designed by
Hal Holman. Some might be interested to read his own description of the process
(and that of John Middleton) at
http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2015/08/the-true-inside-story-of-the-saga-of-the-png-flag.html.
Apart from the personal aspects of the recollection, it makes it quite clear
that the 1970 flag was indeed treated only as a proposal.
Jonathan Dixon,
14 November 2015
