Yesterday was Australia day - and it was impossible to ignore the Australian flag. It was everywhere - on beach towels, sun shades, flying from the roof of almost every car - and even adorning the bikinis worn on our beaches.
Half a century ago it was a different story. Visitors lamented that we tended to ignore flying our flag. On days of public events the flagpoles atop public buildings were bare. Many compared this with America - where the stars and stripes flew from private homes and featured on commercial buildings.
A few decades ago Australians suddenly discovered their flag. Each year the enthusiasm grew and yesterday that embrace was so obvious that those wanting to drop it's iconic design seem to be a voice in the wilderness.
The objection seems to be having the Union Jack in one corner, representing the place from which this country originated. To some, this seems a constant irritant, but then much of the world originated from the British Empire - and consequently the Union Jack appears on the flag of many other countries.
Eventually there will be a referendum on our flag and with the present mood of enthusiastic acceptance it is hard to see a majority opting for change, but if that does happen a design as similar as possible to the one we know would be preferable.
One idea that might solve the dilemma would be to drop the Union Jack in favour of it's replacement by the Aboriginal flag.
Our flag would then recognise the Aboriginal people who were here before 1788, and the Southern Cross and Federation star on that lovely blue background would recognise the people who came after 1788.
With a little careful thought about what our flag is supposed to say, that might just win a referendum !
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