The Aboriginal flag has been permanently placed on the tail of the first Western Australia Police Force Air Wing aircraft as a mark of respect for the State’s Aboriginal community.
Senior Sergeant and Head of Police Air Wing Operations for the Force, Dean Vivarelli said the flag would be seen when the plane flew into areas of the State that were home to Aboriginal communities and possibly also sacred sites.
The flag-carrying Pilatus PC12 was unveiled at a ceremony held with Aboriginal Elders, Aunty Trish and Aunty Neta, members of the Aboriginal Affairs Division and other community stakeholders.
The remainder of the Police Air Wing fleet of aircraft have since also had the Aboriginal flag added.
Senior Sergeant Vivarelli said the addition of the Aboriginal flag was seen as an important, symbolic way to show respect to the Aboriginal community and contribute to the WA Police Force Reconciliation Action Plan.
“The placement of the Aboriginal flag on our aircraft recognises Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the land we frequently travel to by air,” Senior Sergeant Vivarelli said.
“Furthermore, we are at times required to enter parts of the State which are held as sacred sites to our Aboriginal Elders and their community members, such as during land searches, and we do so knowing we have the blessing of the Elders and their communities to enter those lands to help save lives.”
He said the flag initiative was an important part of the close relationship with the Aboriginal community.
“It adds to our efforts to build safer, stronger and sustainable relationships between the WA Police Force and the Aboriginal community, and we are proud to fly the flag across the sky,” Senior Sergeant Vivarelli said.
