Queensland student designs Centenary of Federation 20c coin
15th February 2001
The Royal Australian Mint today announced the winner of the Queensland section of the national Centenary of Federation coin design competition.
The winning design was prepared by Jenifer Gray, a student at Ingham State High School in North Queensland.
The coin designed by Jenifer will be officially launched by the Federal Minister for Small Business, the Hon. Ian Macfarlane MP, on 23 March 2001 in Brisbane during a special presentation.
Background
Late last year the Royal Australian Mint conducted a nation-wide competition to find a school student from every Australian State and self-governing Territory whose Centenary of Federation design will appear on a nationally-circulated 20c coin. The competition is a key element of the Mint's Centenary of Federation Coin Program, and supports the aim of involving Australians from every corner of our country in the Centenary of Federation celebrations.
The Queensland design is the third of nine to be revealed during 2001. Each State and self-governing Territory will have its own student-designed 20 cent coin, as well as a 50 cent coin bearing its official coat of arms. The student designs will be unveiled close to the time of the official Centenary of Federation celebrations in every State and Territory. The coins will be released in both collector and circulating form during the course of the year.
A cheque for $5,000 will be presented to Ingham State High School by the Royal Australian Mint. Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School and Guardian Angels School both on the Gold Coast will receive runner-up awards of $1,000, thanks to the efforts of students Hannes Christian Roesti and Rachael Jane Bartram respectively.
Mr Graeme Moffatt, Controller of the Mint, said "I was extremely impressed with the quality of the talent in the Queensland entries and we have had some very original concepts submitted. It's evident that the students' designs were inspired by the natural beauty of their State." He expressed special thanks to the many school principals and teachers in Queensland who pitched in to enable their students to submit designs. In total more than 170 Queensland schools submitted entries to the Mint, with most schools putting forward at least three designs.