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One local New South Wales 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. 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. 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. READ MORE: Choice reveals its Shonkys 'award' winners for 2025 The flags are intended for display on private residences. 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. "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. READ MORE: Mum joked as six-year-old daughter died from neglect, court hears "I wonder why we're a country now why we're a country now where it's controversial to promote flying your own flag." 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. "It's a small token gesture, but it means a lot to a lot of people," he said. READ MORE: Former NRL star charged over alleged cryptocurrency fraud January 26 marks the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, about a week after its arrival in Botany Bay. 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. It became an officially fixed national public holiday in 1994 but by then the date had been consistently marked in some way for decades. 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. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: 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. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
