Flying High
Local
Any vexillologists heading towards St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral from the eastern end of Wakefield St over the past few weeks may well, should they have looked up, have noticed something a little different and of great interest.
Fluttering in the breeze, as they have been for some time, are the national flags of Australia and the Australian Aboriginal flag.
But there is now a newcomer: the Vatican City flag. For the uninitiated, Vexillology is the scientific and scholarly study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags.
The idea for the three-pronged exhibition comes from Archbishop Patrick O’Regan who took his spur from the purple bench which sits in Mary MacKillop Plaza in Victoria Square and is a testament to victims killed by family and domestic violence, with a view to raising community awareness and a space for reflection.
While the protocol around flags can be substantial, they are here to add colour and conversation for regular Mass goers and new attendees at the Cathedral alike.
Take a second to look up next time you’re in the area.
