Summary

Souvenir flag of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II given to Ronald John Atkin by his mother when he migrated to Australia in 1966. It features a central image of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, and the children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne.

Ronald John Atkin (known as John) was born on 13 December 1944 in England and migrated to Australia as part of an employment recruitment scheme run by the Department of Immigration, the State Government of Victoria, and the Melbourne Metropolitan Tramway Board (MMTB). Advertisements were placed in newspapers in the UK, calling for young men to migrate and offering assisted passage, employment (a two year compulsory contract) and hostel accommodation. John flew to Melbourne on British Eagle International Airlines, honoured his contract with the MMTB before moving on to other employment, married and had a son. He became very involved in the local scouting organisations, his wife Valerie having commenced a scout group at the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind in Bennetswood which John joined in 1967.

Physical Description

Cotton flag of the British Union Jack featuring central printed image of Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, and Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Handwritten annotation on rear corner bottom right.

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
This collection and the associated story adds a new dimension to the Museum's growing collection relating to post World War II British migration to Australia, as it represents one of the assistance schemes provided by State Government employers. It also represents air rather than ship travel, which is under-represented in the collection. The British flag souvenir illustrates a popular expression of a continued connection to homeland, particularly through royal symbolism.

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