Heraldry in the News!

Well, they're at it again.

Who are "they?", you ask. And what is this "it" they are "at again"?

In this case, "they" are Australians, and they are "at again" is a move to change the coat of arms of the Australian Capital Territory (and/or the City of Canberra, which currently bears the same arms).

They have argued over changing these arms before, and I've mentioned it in posts here on this blog on September 6, 2012; April 4, 2013; August 8, 2013; August 26, 2013; December 14, 2015; and May 22, 2019.

Well, having failed to reach an agreement to either change the arms or keep them, they're at it again.

Now, as an article dated February 25, 2021, notes, the ACT will have designed for it a new emblem that is "diverse, modern, and inclusive", created by by second year design students at the University of Canberra's Faculty of Arts and Design. The full article can be found on-line at: https://canberraweekly.com.au/designing-a-new-coat-of-arms-for-the-act/

"Terry Fewtrell and a group of about 20 ACT citizens for meaningful civic symbols say the heraldry in the Canberra City coat of arms is not reflective of the ACT and now is the time to reignite debate on the issue," according to a February 24, 2021 on-line article that asks "Is it time to 'modernise' the ACT's coat of arms?" at https://the-riotact.com/is-it-time-to-modernise-the-acts-coat-of-arms/442231

As a non-citizen and non-resident of Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, or Canberra, I am not taking a stance on whether or not the current arms should be changed or retained. I will say, however, that as a herald I have seen way too many instances of folks wanting to change their locality's coat of arms come up with what is effectively a logo that lacks the timelessness of good heraldic design, because they themselves know little or nothing about heraldry, its purpose, its history, and fail to include the guidance of experts in the field who do know what makes for an eye-catching, and eye-pleasing, piece of heraldic art.

Anyway, here we are again, 8½ years after my first post on this subject, watching the arguments about "could we, should we, need we" change the arms of the ACT, and what should/could/will a new design include?