This year was a particularly disappointing one.

Once again the Eureka flag was not flown from the main flagpole on the Town Hall on Eureka Day, December 3.

Never in this history of the City of Ballarat, not even during the 150th celebrations in 2004 has the Eureka flag been flown from the main flagpole, although a number of foreign flags have been flown from it in the past.

This year's Ballarat City Council contribution was almost non-existent.

It was embarrassing to take the international, interstate and Victorian guests from outside Ballarat, who attended this year's Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion Celebrations, through the city.

Hardly any businesses or houses in Ballarat flew the Eureka flag, the Eureka flag at Bakery Hill was tattered and torn.

No flowers had been lain on the graves of the Eureka rebels in the Old Ballarat Cemetery, hardly any events had been organised for the day and although the city was festooned with Christmas decorations, the bunting and Eureka banners that are normally put up by the council for Eureka Day were nowhere to be seen. This lack of interest demonstrates a lack of pride and disrespect for the spirit of Eureka, the sacrifices made by the men and women involved in the rebellion 159 years ago and the profound impact they have had on this nation's consciousness.

This lack of pride highlights the hypocrisy of all those in the City of Ballarat who use the symbols associated with the Eureka Rebellion to promote Ballarat institutions and privately owned businesses.

It's disappointing, despite the efforts of The Courier, that such little respect was shown for what is and continues to be a defining moment in this nation's history.