Australian Banknotes
In the spirit of delving into Australia’s past, I thought I’d go over the men and women who appear on our plastic banknotes.
$5 - Regular
The Queen: our head of State.
$5 - Federation
Sir Henry Parkes: a politician known as "Father of Federation". The English-born Parkes travelled the country rallying the colonies to become one. The rest is history.
Catherine Helen Spence: a journalist, social and political reformer, novelist and feminist. She was part of the "first wave" feminism movement, which partly explains why Australia was one of the first places to allow women to vote (I believe South Australia beat New Zealand who was the first nation).
$10
Banjo Paterson: an avid poet, ballad writer, journalist and horseman. Probably the most famous man on our money, Paterson was aslo a Sydney lawyer, which just goes to show that one of the main architects of the “Aussie battler” icon was a city-dweller.
Dame Mary Gilmore: an author, journalist, poet, patriot and tireless campaigner against injustice and deprivation, as well as an aspiring socialist who contributed to the New Australia movement.
$20
Reverend John Flynn: a pioneer of the world's first aerial medical service, now known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Mary Reibey: a early business woman who did much charity work and made significant contributions in education. Reibey was also a former convict (or emancipist) who was convicted for horse theft at the early age of 13.
$50
David Unaipon: writer, public speaker and inventor. Unaipon made significant contributions to science and literature, and to improvements in the conditions of Aboriginal people.
Edith Cowan: a social worker, politician and feminist, and founder of many charity organisations. Cowan was the first woman member of an Australian parliament.
$100
Dame Nellie Melba: world renowned soprano. Mellie gained international success in the world of opera and was considered a household name. She also had a dessert named after her.
Genearl Sir John Monash: military commander, engineer and admistrator. This man was an impressive wartime general as well as an intellectual champion hence why a prestigious scholarship bares his name. Monash was also responsible for steel reinforced concrete.
I think my favourite person is Monash, though I admire the fact that Reibey was actually a former convict who made something of herself. Admittedly, I know little about these people. So much to read, so little time.
$5 - Regular
The Queen: our head of State.
$5 - Federation
Sir Henry Parkes: a politician known as "Father of Federation". The English-born Parkes travelled the country rallying the colonies to become one. The rest is history.
Catherine Helen Spence: a journalist, social and political reformer, novelist and feminist. She was part of the "first wave" feminism movement, which partly explains why Australia was one of the first places to allow women to vote (I believe South Australia beat New Zealand who was the first nation).
$10
Banjo Paterson: an avid poet, ballad writer, journalist and horseman. Probably the most famous man on our money, Paterson was aslo a Sydney lawyer, which just goes to show that one of the main architects of the “Aussie battler” icon was a city-dweller.
Dame Mary Gilmore: an author, journalist, poet, patriot and tireless campaigner against injustice and deprivation, as well as an aspiring socialist who contributed to the New Australia movement.
$20
Reverend John Flynn: a pioneer of the world's first aerial medical service, now known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Mary Reibey: a early business woman who did much charity work and made significant contributions in education. Reibey was also a former convict (or emancipist) who was convicted for horse theft at the early age of 13.
$50
David Unaipon: writer, public speaker and inventor. Unaipon made significant contributions to science and literature, and to improvements in the conditions of Aboriginal people.
Edith Cowan: a social worker, politician and feminist, and founder of many charity organisations. Cowan was the first woman member of an Australian parliament.
$100
Dame Nellie Melba: world renowned soprano. Mellie gained international success in the world of opera and was considered a household name. She also had a dessert named after her.
Genearl Sir John Monash: military commander, engineer and admistrator. This man was an impressive wartime general as well as an intellectual champion hence why a prestigious scholarship bares his name. Monash was also responsible for steel reinforced concrete.
I think my favourite person is Monash, though I admire the fact that Reibey was actually a former convict who made something of herself. Admittedly, I know little about these people. So much to read, so little time.
posted by Engels at 3:05 pm
4 Comments:
I had a $100 note the other day. I was so scared I'd lose/spend it, I put it into the bank... it took me about 30 mins to work out how to deposit money!
Hooray I'm saving money!!
Haha. Brilliant.
It really took you about 30 mins to deposit money?
I bought something yesterday for $65 with a hundred note, you should have seen the death stare the lady gave me... for fuck sake I was spending 65 bucks!
One thing I've thought I noticed (perhaps I'm wrong) is that in the UK shop assistants create a big 'song and dance' when you give slightly inconvenient change.
In the UK they will look at the money, then look at you like you've taken a shit on their mothers grave and wiped your arse with their cat, and always make some comment to make you feel an inch tall. In Australia I feel they aren't so animated in their disapointment.
Are you suggesting that the English shop employees are being whingy poms? Never.
I don't know if I've ever held a new $100 dollar bill. ATM's never give them out, and I don't like carrying large sums of money on me. It doesn't help that I don't own large sums of money...
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