15/03/2001
The Royal Australian Mint today announced the winner of the Northern Territory section of the national Centenary of Federation coin design competition.
The winning design was prepared Lisa Brett, a student at Leanyer School in Darwin.
Lisa's design will be officially launched in early July in Darwin. This is the first time that a set of coins has been issued specially for the Northern Territory. These will initially be available in collector sets and then later in the year as circulating currency.
Background
Late last year the Royal Australian Mint conducted a nation-wide competition to find a school student from each 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 NT design is the sixth 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 are being 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 Leanyer School by the Royal Australian Mint. Holy Spirit Primary School in Darwin and Katherine High School in Katherine will receive runner-up awards of $1,000, thanks to the efforts of students Chanel Rizonico and Merlissa Moore respectively.
Mr Graeme Moffatt, Controller of the Mint, paid tribute to yet another fine design from a young Australian, joining those already selected as a lasting memento of our Centenary as a nation. He expressed special thanks to the many school principals and teachers in the NT who pitched in to enable their students to submit designs. In total 26 NT schools submitted entries to the Mint, with most schools putting forward at least three designs.