Aussie ‘legend’ hands out flags at Woolies amid Australia Day furore

A man has been praised as a “champion” for standing out outside a Melbourne Woolworths and handing out Aussie flags.

A man has been hailed as a “legend” for handing out Australian flags outside a Melbourne Woolworths following the supermarket’s controversial decision to ditch Australia Day merch.

The man, dressed in an Australian-themed shirt and Australian flag-printed hat, was spotted standing outside the Woolworths store in Officer, 50km from Melbourne’s CBD, with a trolley of handheld flags.

It comes after Woolworths sparked backlash earlier this month after announcing it would stop selling Australia Day merch following a “gradual decline” in sales.

In a photo shared on social media, the man can be seen smiling at the camera and posing next to a large Australian flag, while holding up several smaller flags.

“How’s this bloke. Handing out Australian flags outside of Woolworths at Officer Victoria,” the post, shared on the ‘COMMUNITYpete’ Facebook page, read.

“Personally I love it.”

The man was spotted handing out flags outside a Melbourne Woolworths store. Picture: Facbeook@COMMUNITYpete

Others were quick to praise the man as a “champion” and “good Aussie bloke”, with one even going so far to label him “Australian of the Year”.

“Absolute legend,” one person wrote.

“Good on him. He’s proud to be an Aussie he’s a legend and right in front of Woolies,” said another.

“Australian of the Year!” another wrote.

“Showing the Aussie Spirit. What a legend” another commented.

However, not everyone supported the display, with some defending Woolworths move to drop Australia Day merch and not sell “cheap plastic” flags on a divisive day.

“Everyone is acting like Woolies banned Australia Day … All they did was drop some non-performing product lines,” one person wrote.

“Nothing says Australia quite like cheap plastic that will end up in landfill,” said another.

“Happy Australia Day, here’s some plastic crap made in a foreign country, imported here, contributed to carbon emissions that are going to be used for ONE day then probably left in nature and eventually sent to a landfill in a waste site near you,” added a third.

Others stressed January 26 is “not a date to celebrate”.

“Proudly wearing my Aboriginal flag T-shirt today. This is not a date to celebrate,” one person wrote.

“This is not a day that brings people together. There’s a deep grief and hurt for so many people on this day,” another wrote.

Elsewhere around the country, an Australian flag was seen taped to a wall outside a Woolworths store in Sydney’s affluent inner-west suburb of Balmain.

An Australian flag was hung outside a Woolworths store in Balmain, Sydney. Picture: Facebook

The supermarket giant has come under fire over the merchandise decision, which sparked outrage across the country and among some of its own staff members.

In leaked messages posted to a private online forum managed by Woolworths, obtained by the Daily Mail, several staff members hit out at the company refusing to sell Australia Day merchandise while promoting cultural celebrations like Chinese New Year and Diwali.

“Unbelievable that Australia Day was cancelled but we will celebrate Halloween and Chinese New Year just to name a couple,” one person wrote in the forum.

“ … Can you imagine a Chinese supermarket chain cancelling Chinese New Year but celebrating Australia Day?” they continued.

“Australian CEOs need to stop playing politics/activism and get on with running the business.”

A female staff member also questioned why the company supports “all other diversity ways in our lives” but has suddenly chose not to “support the community that celebrates Australia Day”.

“I don’t get it,” she wrote.

Several Woolworths staff members have slammed the supermarket in leaked messages online. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Nikki Short

The leaked messages come after a letter sent to staff by Woolworths Chief Executive Brad Banducci came to light on Thursday.

In the letter, shared by the Daily Mail, Mr Banducci explained the reasoning behind the decision and apologised to staff for the “aggressive” backlash they have received.

“I want to personally apologise to all of you for the way our merchandising decision has been received – and how this has resulted in hurtful and inappropriate reactions directed at you, our team members,” Mr Banducci wrote in the letter.

“I know that many of you have received negative and aggressive comments – and in some cases acts. I am deeply sorry that you are being subjected to that.”

Defending the announcement, Mr Banducci said the supermarket is not “trying to ‘cancel’ celebrating the Australia Day long weekend”.“We are a proud Australian and New Zealand retailer and, like so many others across Australia, I am proud to be an Australian citizen and deeply grateful for the opportunities that Australia has afforded me and my family,” he said.

The South African born CEO also addressed why stores have decided to display banners for Lunar New Year or Diwali “but not our own national day”.

“Celebrations like Diwali and Lunar New Year are often centred around connection over food, and as a business we are committed to supporting events and occasions like this for our customers and team,” Mr Banducci wrote, despite some arguing Australia Day is often celebrated with barbecues.

“We know that not every Australian marks Australia Day, in the same way and it’s important to us that all customers and team feel safe and a sense of belonging when they are in our stores.”