Flannel Flower Day,
21 June — Winter Solstice
Flannel Flower Day is a national day of remembrance held on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, honouring veterans lost to suicide and recognising the families and communities left behind.
Our Story on ABC:
Shan, the Royal Commission & Why This Day Matters
Flannel Flower Day isn’t just a date on the calendar, it’s a story of remembrance, advocacy, and hope.
In national coverage by ABC, Shan’s story and the call for systemic change through the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide were shared with Australians.
Watch the feature below to hear why this day matters, not just to us, but to the broader movement for meaningful support and reform.
Honouring lives lost to veteran suicide.
Walking together toward remembrance, reform, and hope.
The Flannel Flower Ode
They served where duty called,
in ways both seen and unseen,
bearing the weight of commitment beyond the uniform,
standing firm when the marching ceased.
They answered every call,
placing service before self, often without witness.
Though their service is ended, their legacy endures,
their duty now lives on through us.
Like the flannel flower, they endured:
gentle in form, steadfast at heart.
Shaped by harsh ground and testing seasons,
they stood firm where survival demanded courage.
We remember those lost to invisible wounds,
borne of service, carried in silence.
We honour the families and loved ones who shoulder that burden now,
affirming that sacrifice is no less for being unseen.
At the turning of the light, in the quiet of the watch,
we gather in the space between loss and love.
Here, they remain among us,
part of our ranks, our memory, our ongoing duty.
As the flannel flower rises from winter into light,
so too does our remembrance rise measured, enduring, and true.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we remember them.
What it is Flannel Flower Day?
Flannel Flower Day is a national day of remembrance held on the winter solstice — the longest night of the year — honouring veterans lost to suicide and recognising the families and communities left behind.
The flannel flower, Australia’s national flower for mental health, represents resilience, softness, and hope — even in the harshest conditions.
Why the winter solstice matters?
The winter solstice marks a turning point.
From the deepest darkness, the light slowly returns.
For many survivors of suicide loss, grief can feel like an endless night. Flannel Flower Day acknowledges that darkness, without rushing it, while holding space for what comes next.
Wear a flannel shirt or a flannel flower
Walk in silence, alone or with others
Light a candle at dusk or dawn
Share the name of someone you’re remembering
Post a photo and help others feel less alone
Participation can be public or private. Both matter.
How people can take part
What this day stands for
Flannel Flower Day is not about awareness alone.
It is about acknowledgement.
Acknowledging lives lost to invisible wounds
Acknowledging the long road survivors walk
Acknowledging that grief deserves dignity, time, and community
No fixing. No platitudes. Just presence.