Union hands out free Aus Day merchandise after retail giants refuse to stock it

A teachers union has handed out Australia Day paraphernalia outside a Brisbane Woolworths store after retail giants announced they won’t be stocking the themed merchandise this year.

A teachers’ union has handed out Australia Day paraphernalia after retail giants announced they won’t be stocking the themed merchandise this year.

Due to a “gradual decline in community demand” Woolworths and Big W, among others, have

decided not to stock Australia Day merchandise as the public holiday approaches.

Members of the Teachers’ Professional Association of Queensland were giving away Australia Day themed flags, stubby holders and hats for free outside Woolworths in Nundah, in Brisbane’s inner-north, on Tuesday morning.

The Teachers’ Professional Association of Queensland is an alternative to the Queensland

Teachers Union and is a part of the umbrella organisation, Red Union.

TPAQ Secretary Edward Schuller said those at the Red Union were patriots and were sparked into action by the recent resistance to Australia Day.

“For now it is our national day and we’re very proud of our country, we’re proud to represent

Australians and that’s essentially the crux of it,” Mr Schuller said.

Merchandise handed out outside Woolworths at Nundah on Tuesday.

While those handing out the paraphernalia were paid workers of the Union, including Mr Schuller, he said the merchandise was paid for out of his own pocket.

“I bought all of the paraphernalia myself as the secretary and I decided to hand it out … I was the one there and we were already in the area for a site visit and we decided to do that … it was instigated by me as the secretary,” he said.

“We’re proud Australians and Woolworths are among a number of different stores who decided not to stock Australia Day merchandise,” he said.

Mr Schuller said he was aware the retail giants were no longer stocking the patriotic merchandise because the demand had decreased but his experience found otherwise.

“Demand had gone down supposedly, now look we were giving them away for free, but it all went within an hour … we were only there between 11 and 12.” he said.

Mr Schuller said that he and his staff were handing out the merchandise on behalf of the Red Union, and said they get members every year who are “sick of the demonisation of our country, particularly within the education system”.

“The curriculum seems to focus more on the wrongdoings of our past, which have certainly

occurred. But there are many things in Australia’s past that we ought to reflect on,” he said.

“But there was also a lot of awesome stuff which has led to the great country that we live in today, so I think that the negative focus within the curriculum and within schools and within the other teacher unions.

“I don’t believe it’s political to support and be proud of your country and I know it’s moderately provocative to go to Woolies and do what we did.”