Today marks 118 years since the first flying of the Australian flag.

On September 3, 1901, then Prime Minister Edmund Barton announced the winner of the flag design competition in Melbourne.

It was then flown over the dome of the Royal Exhibition Building.

The Australian National Flag Association’s John Vaughn tells Alan Jones it’s a day to display and celebrate our flag.

“We should commemorate the flag because the flag really is about Australians and about the principals on which our country’s based.

“[It’s] about our numerous generations of Australians since federation because we got our flag in federation year and we chose it ourselves.”

The design contest attracted 32,823 entries from men, women and children with five almost identical designs chosen as the winner.

Each person, including a 14-year-old boy, received a ₤40 cash prize.

Click PLAY below to hear the full chat with John Vaughan

Today also marks 80 years since Prime Minister Robert Menzies declared war with Germany.