Flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands: Difference between revisions

Australian territory flag

The flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands is a green field with symbols such as a palm tree on a gold disc, which represents the islands’ tropical flora; a crescent, which represent the Cocos Malays; and the Southern Cross, which represent Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. The flag mostly uses the national colours of Australia.

The flag was designed during a flag designing competition in 2003. The winning submission was designed by teenager Mohammed Minkom. Minkom’s design was formally declared on 6 April 2004 by then-Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories Evan Williams. Although its designation as such, the flag’s design is not officially recognised by the Australian Government

The flag consists of a green field with a palm tree on a gold disc in the canton, a gold crescent moon in the centre of the flag and a gold southern cross in the fly. The palm tree represents the islands’ tropical flora; the colours are Australia’s national colours; the crescent represents Islam,^[1] the religion of the Cocos Malays who make up a majority of the islands’ population; and the Southern Cross is a symbol of Australia and the Southern Hemisphere.^[2]

Then-teenage Mohammed Minkom competed in a competition in 2003^[3] to design the official flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. He had won the contest and his design of the flag would be adopted by the territory.^[4] Minkom’s design of the flag was formally declared on 6 April 2004 by then-Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories Evan Williams.^[3] Although it was adopted and regularly used as such, the flag’s design is not officially recognised by the Australian Government, alongside the flag of Christmas Island.^[5]