February 22, 2019
The Reserve Bank has revealed the design of the new $20 banknote, which will be released into general circulation in October.
The new banknote features the same security features incorporated into the new-style $5, $10 and $50 banknotes.
These features include a top-to-bottom clear window that contains dynamic elements, including a flying kookaburra that moves its wings and changes colour, and a reversing number “20”.
There is also a patch with a rolling-colour effect and microprint featuring excerpts from Flynn’s book The Bushman’s Companion and the names of Reibey’s ships.
The new banknotes also have a tactile feature to help people who are blind or who have low vision to distinguish between different denominations of banknotes. On the $20 banknote, this is three raised bumps on each of the long edges of the banknote.
The portraits feature Mary Reibey and Reverend John Flynn, the same Australians highlighted on the existing $20 note.
Mary Reibey arrived in Australia as a convict, but soon broke out of rigidly defined social norms to earn a reputation as an astute and successful businesswoman running her shipping and trading enterprises. She also became known for her support of charity, religion and education. Her story is illustrated on the new banknote through an image of a Port Jackson schooner in Sydney Cove in the early 1800s, similar to the type owned by Mary Reibey. Beside it is a traditional Eora nowie (canoe).
Rev John Flynn pioneered the world’s first aerial medical service in 1928, now known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service. His stories are told through a RFDS De Havilland aircraft leaving a remote Broken Hill homestead in 1948 and a pedal-powered transceiver used by the service to improve communication in remote areas.
The Reserve Bank said all existing $20 banknotes can continue to be used, as all previously issued banknotes remain legal tender.
It is expected a new-style $100 banknote will be released next year.
