Apart from having tactile features to assist people with sight problems, an unattractive new design for five dollar note is released. A significant opportunity is missed by the Government, led by a republican Prime Minister, to remove the portrait of the foreign Head of State. A small symbolic step but an important one. QEII has been absent from this note before – she was missing from the Centenary of Federation fiver – before being reinstated. Incidentally, Canada is rumoured to be on the verge of removing the Queen from its 20 dollar note to make way for a Canadian woman. Speaking of money, the Aussie coins to commemorate the 50th anniversary of decimal currency feature a Queen’s head on the obverse so small, it’s almost microscopic. A change of sorts, WfaAR contends.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
