<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One local </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="_blank" title="New South Wales"><span>New South Wales</span></a><span> council is offering residents a free Aussie flag to help celebrate on January 26 - and the mayor says he's "surprised" at the publicity it gets.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Late in October, Maitland Mayor Philip Penfold announced that submissions would open in November for residents to put their hand up for a free Australian flag, in the lead-up to Australia Day celebrations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are two options - one flag suitable for flying from a flagpole, and another flag with a bracket-and-pole kit that can be installed to hang off the side of a house.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/shonkys-awards-choice-names-commonwealth-bank-temu-hcf-energy-retailers/100afa9c-2325-4462-a1ec-e1618e6d8c6a" target="_blank"><strong><span>Choice reveals its Shonkys 'award' winners for 2025</span></strong></a></div></div><div><iframe frameborder="0" height="150px" src="https://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/free-flags-local-council-restoring-pride-in-australia-day/embed" width="100%"></iframe></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The flags are intended for display on private residences.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Penfold told 2GB's Ben Fordham it was the second year the council had put forward the offer, after it proved massively popular the first time around.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We want Maitland residents to know they can be proud of their flag, of their country, and we're doing our little bit to promote that," he said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/maitland-council-giving-away-free-australia-flags-to-residents-lead-up-to-australia-day/7543617d-9999-4068-9fea-f3733fe23143" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/crystal-hanley-charlie-nowland-child-abuse-victim-impact-statements/06fa46f7-0ed2-43c5-a819-28d8cddd00e8" target="_blank"><strong><span>Mum joked as six-year-old daughter died from neglect, court hears</span></strong></a></div></div><div><div class="fb-post social-placeholder" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/CrPhilipPenfold/posts/pfbid02f3vSBnLpgT4E8jWoZzT3HExyvgok1Sarj3GG3bLJW1f45CShymawSxprqdPu5bHTl" data-width="auto"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I wonder why we're a country now why we're a country now where it's controversial to promote flying your own flag."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said he regretted that "unfortunately" the demand was expected to outstrip the $5000 to $10,000 budget allocated to the initiative, but that the council was determined to help people celebrate Australia Day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's a small token gesture, but it means a lot to a lot of people," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/trent-merrin-former-nrl-star-alleged-fraud-charges/6b3ba774-d66a-4685-8347-cdbc947b805c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Former NRL star charged over alleged cryptocurrency fraud</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>January 26 marks the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, about a week after its arrival in Botany Bay.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has often - though not always - been the day chosen to celebrate the British arrival in Australia, or Australian nationality and identity, and was first declared a public holiday in 1818, though differences existed between the colonies and later the states and territories.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It became an officially fixed national public holiday in 1994 but by then the date had been consistently marked in some way for decades.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There has been longstanding opposition to January 26 as Australia's national day, headed by Indigenous people and organisations who see it as "Invasion Day" and a day of mourning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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