The tradition of parading the banner goes back to medieval times when it was the province of lords and barons to display the finery of their House or lineage; the serfs, labourers, peasants, tenant farmers, yeomen and their dependants, under the protection of feudal lords, paid homage by declaring an allegiance, owing him faith and service. Their lot was to live and die in the shadow of their lord's (or a pretender's) standard.

The "trade union" organisation of the 17th and 18th century were essentially the guilds - the industrial revolution transformed the various modes of production and heralded the Enclosure Acts, dispossessing thousands from traditional village and cottage industries.

With the rise of large scale towns and manufacturing cities the workingman's guilds and friendly societies emerged, identifying a myriad of issues affecting the lives of working people and their families.

The banners of the guilds and societies captured in time and spirit the struggle of the emancipation of labour from the middle classes and landed gentry. Parliamentary democracy, still in its infancy, opened a new social-political era to the masses, who emulated the pageantry of their rulers. More importantly, they extended the expression of the banner from that of representing a House to one reflecting the class action of organised labour. This concept of class action became the focus of attack by the dominant social-economic class - the Tolpuddle Martyrs still remain as an ever relevant testimonial today as it was in 1834.

Union banners reflect but a stage of a continuous and evolving struggle of the working men and women; they require painstaking consideration and sensitivity in applying craft skills. The artist transforms the expressions and inspiration of the union members into a spectrum and living design as a naked light is transformed by a prism into living colours.

The banners on display in essence represent the living and vibrant fabric of trade unionism in Australia, paying tribute both to our forebears and present commitment of the struggle for equity and social justice. The Council fully supports the Art and Working Life program of the Australia Council which has assisted in making revival of the banner tradition a reality.