RAISING THE YELLOW FLAGS...
...WHAT'S IT ABOUT?      From Anita Grigg

At recent beach carnivals at Alexandria Bay, QLD and also at Tyagarah Beach, NSW, there have appeared some four meter high gold Bali Flags, screen-printed with the FBA logo in blue, which have given the FBA a prominent visibility at these events. Bali flags seem to say ‘freedom’ and ‘beach’ whilst yellow and blue are the traditional colours of the nudist movement and of the sand and the sea.

Recently the FBA has purchased four Bali flags and eventually we hope to be able to give one flag to every FBA representative to take onto our beaches throughout Australia. This will tell the people at that beach that the person with the flag is representing the FBA. It will also mark a place on the beach where all nudists/naturists are made welcome to come over for a chat. If you need assistance there will be a first aid kit and a phone there and someone to help. It will mark a safe place on a beach to go to. These flags can be taken to beach carnivals throughout Australia where the FBA will be present to provide information.

So what is the history and the significance of the yellow flags? Nudists in the USA claim the idea of the yellow flag originated over there. Certainly the Oregon Clothing Optional Beach Alliance has a yellow flag with a red stripe for members to display on their beaches to denote membership and a safe place on the beach. But whether they were first is open to debate. Does anybody know when the first yellow flags appeared on a nude beach and where? Are yellow flags also used by nudists/naturists in other countries to denote a safe place on a beach?

Around about 1976, the Free Beach of New Zealand adopted as its mascot a bear named FRED. FRED BEAR became a readily recognizable symbol for those who preferred to go ‘Thread Bare’ on beaches. The group introduced the idea of having individual yellow flags with the bear symbol printed on them to indicate members as well as a safe place at the beach.

In the 1990’s the FBAQ approached the FBNZ president, John Groombridge about using the Fred Bear yellow flags in Queensland, Australia and throughout the world as a universal international symbol, but permission for this was refused. So the FBAQ developed its own individual yellow flags for use by its members, with the FBAQ symbol and runners in blue printed on it.

A limited number of these original FBAQ yellow flags (40cm x 30cm) still remain today and if you wish to own a piece of naturist/nudist history, they may be bought for the very inexpensive price of $5.00 each plus postage and handling (this is below cost price). So be quick and order a flag today so you do not miss out on this bargain!

If you would like to order one of these flags please contact Anita at anita.rite@bigpond.com