Today, February 14, is not only Valentine’s Day – it’s also the 54th anniversary of the day that Australia introduced decimal currency!
Enjoy this little ditty from the Australian government explaining the change from pounds, shillings and pence to dollars and cents.
Greg Martin from Martin Bullock Lawyers vaguely recalls the changeover, but he also remembers that he never had any pounds, shillings or pence, ever.
He says:
Change is essential to our society as it grows and adapts. As the world changes, so do our economic, legal and communication systems.
In 1966, only the United Kingdom and a few colonies such as Australia and New Zealand continued to use pounds, shillings and pence.
Now, decimal currencies are used throughout the world, with the exception of only two countries – Mauritania and Madagascar.
Looking to the future, one of the most important changes that Australia and the world must adapt to, which is crucial to our survival as a species, will be our move away from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas to renewable energy. Technological changes, as well as economic laws, will force this to happen much as the life on the planet.
On this day, Decimal Currency Day in Australia, enjoy the ditty and the lessons of pounds, shillings and pence, so that we can transition to renewable energy and help save the planet.
