A man who cheerfully hands out free Australian flags outside a Woolworths store on Australia Day has been hailed as an ‘absolute legend’.
The man was photographed outside a store in Officer, 48km southeast of Melbourne, wearing a big smile and a bucket hat decorated with an Aussie flag motif as he handed out small flags to shoppers.
It’s a bold response to the controversy the major supermarket chain has been embroiled in since it announced it would not be selling Australia Day merchandise.
The man, identified only as ‘John’ in the comments, used a Woolworths shopping trolley to place his stash of flags.
The man, identified only as ‘John’, who was pictured handing out Australian flags outside a Woolworths of Australia Day, has been hailed as a ‘legend’ and a ‘dinky di Aussie’
His image, along with the caption ‘Happy Australia Day’, was posted to the Facebook page ‘COMMUNITYpete’, which has more than 200,000 followers.
“How’s this guy. Handing out Australian flags outside Woolworths at Officer Victoria,” the page admin wrote, saying the photo was submitted by a member.
“Personally, I love it.”
By Friday evening, the post had attracted more than 6,000 comments, with many agreeing that John was a “legend.”
“I love it, we should be proud of Australia, we have been through a lot and we should learn from the past and grow, happy Australia,” one person said.
“A true blue dinky-di… I’m proud to be an Australian,” read another.
Some said Woolworths should take note of the stunt, while others reported similar demonstrations in other stores.
“Maybe this is the beginning, let’s turn this around and silence happy AUSTRALIA DAY and that’s exactly what it is,” one person said.
“At my Woolworths in Ballarat yesterday they put a chair in every walkway with a bucket of free bunting in it,” one person wrote.
“I’m not sure who was responsible as there was no one there but I caught three so thank you legends and well done to this great guy, happy Australia Day.”
However, there were a few naysayers.
“There’s nothing Australia likes to say more than cheap plastic going to landfill,” said one.
“I’m unfollowing this page today,” wrote a second.
‘This is not a day that brings people together. There is a deep sadness and pain for so many people on this day,” a third commented.
South African-born Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci has been under pressure since the supermarket giant decided not to stock Australia Day merchandise this year
Daily Mail Australia revealed Woolworths staff had expressed their anger over the decision not to stock Australia Day products on a private discussion board run by the store.
Several people targeted the store and decided not to recognize Australia Day, while still promoting other culturally significant events such as Chinese New Year and Diwali.
“They’re bringing in Lunar New Year gear for the year of the dragon 2024, loads of it, but not Aussie stuff, disgusting, just think, wake up, go broke,” one staff member said.
“Can’t believe Australia Day has been canceled but we will be celebrating Halloween and Chinese New Year to name a few,” said another.
‘Can you imagine a Chinese supermarket chain canceling Chinese New Year but celebrating Australia Day? Australian CEOs need to stop playing politics/activism and get on with running the business.
“People don’t like it when Australian business and politicians tell them what to think.”
‘I do not get it. We as a company support all other ways of diversity in our lives. Why they suddenly choose not to support the community that celebrates Australia Day,” said a female staff member.
There were calls on Thursday for South African-born Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci to resign after a memo was leaked justifying the decision not to stock Australia Day gear or celebrate the day in a special way.
Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci apologized to staff for the comments on Australia Day
In a memo to staff, obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Mr Banducci told employees he was “deeply sorry” they had to endure the backlash.
“I would like to personally apologize to all of you for the way our merchandising decision was received – and how it resulted in hurtful and inappropriate responses directed at you, our team members,” Mr. Banducci wrote.
Mr Banducci explained that unlike Australia Day, Woolworths puts up banners for other holidays such as Chinese New Year and Diwali as these are “centered around connection over food”.
However, his apology failed to resonate with many Australians, with some claiming the CEO had unintentionally put the safety of his staff at risk because the supermarket had taken a stand on Australia Day.
While January 26 is celebrated for the arrival of European settlers on the continent, for many Indigenous Australians it marks the day the process of dispossession of Indigenous Australians began.