Cam's Corner: Flag represents tradition worth fighting for

ONE OF the earliest memories of pride in sport I have was reflecting on what my grandfather did for New Zealand. Flashing back to 2006, I remember vividly sitting in marshalling at my first ever major international competition - a world championship event.

Where I was sat, behind a black curtain on a plastic deck chair, I could see one flag hanging from the rafters in the humid South African swimming complex. It was our flag - complete with the Southern Cross and Union jack.

When I looked at it, my thoughts jumped to those who had fought for it and us in the war. Essentially I was going to war - albeit in the water and against competitors who weren't likely to try to kill me. Thinking of those who had come before me made me proud - proud to be a Kiwi, proud to swim for New Zealand under that flag.

While I didn't win the race or set the world alight, I was still proud to have represented New Zealand at a senior world championship event - and would have never known it was just the start.

Following that humid 2006 event I have come to the conclusion that seeing the New Zealand flag raised at an Olympic or Paralympic Games is one of the proudest moments a sportsperson could have. For me, it definitely is anyway. Hearing our national anthem echo through swimming complexes in Beijing and London, coupled with a sense of satisfaction for achieving one's goals, is the proudest moment I have experienced in a sporting sense.

The national flag adds to the pride of representing New Zealand. It speaks volumes to me. Talk of changing it simply frustrates me.

As a country, we're known as a youngster which lacks the history most parts of the world have - which is understandable considering we're under 200 years old. Being young in world terms to me says "let's create our own history, where we value the sacrifices those before us have made - both sporting and non-sporting".

Our flag has been around for over 100 years of our history, and is one I'm proud of. Many New Zealanders would know someone who fought in the war under the current flag. For me it was my grandfather.

Having a close tie to the war, a relative who was a prisoner of war purely so that we could live the way we do today, makes it clear to me that we need to keep the flag in its current form to preserve the memory of those who fought.

A thought which springs to mind is whether young men these days would take the call to fight for their country. I think not. But, if they did, would we still want to change the flag in which they were giving their lives for?

I think not. It seems people have lost pride in the country to me, rather than pride in the flag.

It seems to be a bit of a hot topic for politicians to bring up in election year, maybe a bit of free publicity because it is definitely of interest to many.

If I was to alter the memory of the 2006 world championships and swap the current New Zealand flag it would sicken me - especially if it was one of these silver fern concepts. The fern is no more "New Zealand" to us than the Buzzy Bee toy, Maori culture, or Marmite.

The idea of conjuring up a "fresh" look disheartens me to fight for the country.

Representing New Zealand in a sporting arena is an honour that few get to experience.

I'm one of an even smaller few that have experienced hearing the national anthem on the podium.

Looking at a computerised flag with a fern that looks like an All Blacks jersey wouldn't be the same. People say we're a sporting nation, so why not bring in the fern - after all, numerous teams do relate to it. However, I believe we're much more than that.

We're a melting pot of cultures - from us in the north to those in the south - that are all different, yet we all call New Zealand our country - a country which is able to be like it is because of those who came before us, and fought for us.

The pride I feel when competing for New Zealand, under the current national flag, is something which I don't really speak of often.

Maybe it's to do with the classic Kiwi bloke side of me, or maybe it's that the sense of pride is something which few can relate to.

Either way, the New Zealand flag is one which I am proud to say is mine. Who cares if people get confused between ours and Australia's? At the end of the day that is just their ignorance. What's your view on changing the New Zealand flag? Let us know: sports@northernadvocate.co.nz