birding-aus

Mute Swans

To: "'John Leonard'" <>, "'Birding-aus'" <>
Subject: Mute Swans
From: "Mike Simpson" <>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 12:55:54 +1000

The Aussie-Info.com site gives the following explanation of the Canberra (not ACT) coat of arms

 

The Australian Capital Territory has no Coat of Arms. The city of Canberra, the national capital of Australia, was granted a Coat of Arms by King George V in 1928.

The Canberra Coat of Arms consists of a black and white swan supporting a shield.
The shield includes a medieval castle and a crossed Sword of Justice and mace. Beneath the castle is a rose. Above the shield are a gate, a crown and a gum tree.
The mace is a symbol of Parliament. The black and white swans represent the Aboriginal and European races. The rose is the Rose of York, for the Duke of York who declared Canberra the Seat of Government in 1927.

The motto is "Pro Rege, Lege et Grege" - "For the Queen, the Law and the People.

The ACT Chife Minister’s site gives it as:-

 

The creation of the Coat of Arms of the City of Canberra originated from a request by the Commonwealth Department of Defence to the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs and Territories in July 1927. The request was made so that the Coat of Arms could be used on the newly commissioned ship, HMAS Canberra. In August 1927 the Federal Capital Commission (FCC) announced a competition to design a Coat of Arms for the FCC and for the City of Canberra.

The chosen design, drawn by Mr C R Wylie, was sent to the College of Arms, London, in April 1928. After a few modifications, the Coat of Arms was granted by the College in pursuance of a Royal Warrant dated 8 October 1928. The Arms and a Crest were granted on 7 November 1928.

I assume the original motto was For the King etc, I also note that the ACT government sites show the motto in English now rather than Latin.

 

Regards, Mike Simpson
Penrith, NSW

 

 

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