JOE Durrant became ropeable when he heard that a local school wasn't flying the Australian flag in case it offended someone.
"I was angry when I heard that this school wouldn't fly the flag — I was so angry, because so many Australians have died fighting under our flag," the former Liverpool mayor said.
"Our flag is our history."
Mr Durrant said that while he fully supported the country's immigration policies, he wanted new citizens to understand the importance of the flag.
"I know some people go on about the Union Jack on our flag, having the English flag there and that.
"But you've got to remember that even that (the Union Jack) is part of our history, it's about who we are," he said.
"Personally, I think it looks beautiful, our flag. I just love it, with the Southern Cross and the Union Jack; it's about who we are: a big, welcoming country."
Mr Durrant, who flies the flag outside his Warwick Farm home, says local business owners and residents should be encouraged to proudly fly the flag at their premises and homes.
"Look at America, they're not afraid to show their pride in their country, their flag is flown everywhere.
"We should be the same; proud enough of our country to fly our flag from every home and every shop."
But the missing-in-action flag is not the only gripe Mr Durrant has with the current administration.
Last week he enlisted the support of another former mayor, Noel Short, in calling for the "real Liverpool Council flag" to be given a fair go.
He recruited Mr Short because he (Mr Short) as mayor developed a council flag after a trip to the US.
"I just couldn't believe how many American flags were proudly flying across the USA," Mr Short recalled.
"We hardly raised a flag back in Australia, so when I returned I was determined we'd do something about it in Liverpool.
"So I spoke to then council public relations man Bill Mantle, and had a council flag designed, which is the one I have here in the photo with Joe Durrant.
Mr Durrant said that the current council did not fly this council flag because it contained the Union Jack, and it did not want to offend sections of the community.
"This is a great flag, which is all about Liverpool and its history, that Noel came up with as mayor of Liverpool, and it should be proudly flown by council, shopkeepers and residents," Mr Durrant said.
"When we first brought it in, someone would see it being flown by council on its building, they would ring up and ask for one, and we would give them one," Mr Short said.
"And then a school would want one and so on.
"But after I left the Labor Party, part of their revenge against me was to stop using the flag, because it was my idea."
Mr Short said it was important to remember that Liverpool was the fourth major settlement of the colony after the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788.
"After Sydney, Parramatta and Tasmania came Liverpool in 1810, a very important new settlement in the young colony.
"That's why when I was mayor I felt it was important that such an important settlement as Liverpool have its own flag."
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