POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

'Cultural Independence for Australia' badge

Object No. 94/227/4

This badge, probably made in the 1990s, uses the 1854 Eureka flag as a symbol of republican sympathy. The badge appropriates an illustration from a 1937 children's book, 'Blinky Bill and Nutsy: two little Australians', and substitutes the Eureka flag for the current Australian flag. Blinky Bill was created by Dorothy Wall, but when the Australian Republican Movement gained permission to use the character as its mascot in 1993, the copyright holder was Yoram Gross Film Studios, which in the same year created a 26-part TV series, 'The Adventures of Blinky Bill'. In this series, Blinky Bill, Nutsy and their friends worked together to rebuild their village after it was destroyed by humans. Some conservatives were outraged when Blinky Bill was enlisted in the republican cause twenty years ago. Then executive director of Australians For Constitutional Monarchy, Tony Abbott, took a strong position, stating: "Hijacking people's symbols is typical of the manipulation and indoctrination that occurs in many republics. Didn't our republicans say it would be different here?" He then injected a little bipartisan humour, adding: "Blinky Bill isn't interested in politics and he'd develop a twitch if asked to join a political party. When kids read Blinky Bill stories they should think of wholesome adventure. Now they're going to be reminded of Malcolm Turnbull and Paul Keating." Debbie Rudder, Curator, 2013