Our Story - Fund the Flag

OUR STORY

Proud Kamilaroi woman Cheree Toka first started campaigning to raise the Aboriginal flag over the bridge in 2017. Her petition on Change.org has so far gained over 165,000 digital signatures and was debated in the NSW Parliament in 2018.

“Personally, it’s important to me so my children can grow up feeling safe and cultured in their own country, and for my family to be proud of who they are. And for the people of Australia to know about the true ancestral history of the country they call home.”

Though flying the flag on the bridge is symbolic, Cheree, 30, believes it will highlight the injustices Indigenous Australians still face hundreds of years after colonisation.

“My hope is that this statement will spark real debate about the issues Indigenous people in this country face every day, such as deaths in custody, racism, and acceptance.”

When Cheree is not lobbying to Fund the Flag she’s busy as founder and managing director of O.S Group Indigenous, a 100% Aboriginal owned company offering facilities management services.

MEET OUR SUPPORTERS

Fund the Flag counts several state and federal politicians among our supporters, including Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek.
We would like to also recognise and thank some key players whose support has been instrumental to the campaign:

Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, David Harris MP

“Reconciliation should be in our hearts and minds every day, not just on special occasions.
Flying the flag is a sign of respect and can help foster a greater sense of community.”

Inner West Council Mayor, Darcy Byrne

“This campaign is about taking pride in and celebrating the world’s oldest continuous human civilisation, here, in our own backyard. Allowing the Aboriginal Flag to fly proudly over the Bridge, we as a community would be showing our respect for Aboriginal culture, while also taking another small step down the long road of reconciliation,”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore

“We proudly fly the flag at Town Hall and I have long supported Cheree Toka’s campaign to fly the Aboriginal flag on the Harbour Bridge all year round.”

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