A WIRADJURI man has welcomed Albury Council supporting the flying of Indigenous flags at the city's war memorial as a "proud day for Aboriginal people".
It followed a divisive debate that included a challenge to councillors from Wiradjuri man Bobby Whybrow in March to ponder what side of history did they want to be part of.
Albury mayor Kevin Mack, in voting for the poles, said flag backers would be on "the right side of history".
Mr Whybrow said the arguing had "gone on for way too long".
"It's an unnecessary debate but I agree with Kevin Mack's closing speech, when he was saying he wanted to be on the right side of history and not look back," Mr Whybrow said.
"It's what should have happened when there was a $1.3 million upgrade and Albury Council should have adhered to their own protocols and it would have caused a lot less fracture in the community."
Mr Whybrow indirectly referenced plaques at the memorial acknowledging Aboriginal service personnel when embracing the council decision.
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"It's a proud day for Aboriginal people to honour our fallen servicemen and finally have a non-tokenistic representation with our flags flying," he said.
"If we can fly another country's flag I can't see why we can't fly our Indigenous flags."
Mr Whybrow was not surprised at the narrow vote and the opposition which came from councillors Henk van de Ven, Alice Glachan, Darren Cameron and Graham Docksey, who is also the Albury RSL sub-branch president.
"They're loudmouths those who were against it, those who are always stopping progress in Albury with their outdated views," Mr Whybrow said.
Cr van de Ven warned that those who voted for the flag poles would face the consequences in September's council election.
Cr Cameron, the only councillor not to speak during Monday night's debate, told The Border Mail he opposed the poles on the grounds the city was "riding roughshod over the RSL" as the custodian of the memorial.
He agreed with Cr van de Ven that supporters would pay a price in the poll.
In addition to Cr Mack, the motion was supported by deputy mayor Amanda Cohn and David Thurley, John Stuchbery and Murray King.
Mr Docksey said on Tuesday his RSL members would guide whether the Indigenous flags flew on Anzac Day.
Under Monday night's motion, the Albury RSL determines which flags are displayed during its "commemorative or ceremonial events" at the monument.
