Monarchs, Koalas, and Wallabies Take Center Stage

In a surprise move, the Bank of England has announced that three Australian animals will be featured on new banknotes: the monarch butterfly, koala, and eastern brushtail possum. Following an online poll in which over half a million people cast their votes, the winner of the competition was determined. The winning designs were selected from a shortlist of 18 candidates, including the platypus and echidna. The designs will be unveiled at the G20 summit in New Delhi next month. According to the Bank of England, the decision to feature Australian animals on banknotes was made after noting that many children across the country had learned about these species through school curriculums and conservation efforts.