Getting Started
Overview
Who's On the Money? is a unique journey through Australia's history following European settlement and colonisation. It features federation
and Australians at war. It also profiles great Australians, including women and
Aboriginal people.
A fascinating feature is the list at the end of the book
which shows Australians who were on the original decimal currency paper money,
but who are not included on the more recent polymer money.
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Author profile
Chris Miles holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, but soon
after graduating he made the economically dubious but spiritually fulfilling
decision to become a writer and not an accountant. Strangely, his first book is
about money. His favourite banknote is the $100 note – it holds a mysterious
allure for him, since he's rarely had one in his possession.
Chris lives in Melbourne and as well as being a writer of
fiction and non-fiction, he is also a freelance web designer and an editor for
a medical organisation.
Source: Black Dog Books (used with permission)
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Useful websites
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Focus questions
Before reading the book
- What do you think the title means?
- Predict who the people on the cover are.
- What do you know about the people listed in the Contents page?
- What do you think makes Australian money unique?
- What is money from other countries like?
During and after reading the book
- How do the people and buildings on the Australian notes show Australia's history?
- Why do you think these people were selected to be on the Australian notes? How did they stand out?
- What types and groups of people are on the Australian notes? For example, there are political figures.
- Why do you think the people on Australia's original paper money weren't used on the new polymer (plastic) notes? (See who they were on p 30.)
- Who would you select to be on Australia's money? Why?
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Activities
Responding to text
Medals
Individuals
After reading the accounts of the people on the Australian notes, write about the type of medal you would give to each person. Then design a medal for the person you think is the most deserving.
Promissory notes
Small groups
Read the explanation of promissory notes on p 3. This is
another way of describing a written pledge, instead of using money. View
what some looked like. Discuss situations where promissory notes could be used
at school instead of using money – for services such as collecting lunch
orders. Create some for others in your group or class and provide the services.
Money names
Class
Possible names for the dollar were suggested, such as
'monash', 'dolaroo' and 'dinkum'. Read p 4. Explain why you think these names
were suggested. List their pros and cons. List your own suggested names for the
dollar and include explanations for why you chose them. Use the Force Field
Analysis.
Responding to images
Foiling the forgers
Small groups
Read the 'Foiling the forgers' section on p 5. View
polymer banknotes to find the features listed. Record which banknotes you find
and what they are (where appropriate). Which are the most likely features to
foil forgers? Check out the 'Note Printing Australia' website (www.noteprinting.com/banknotes.html).
Portraits
Individuals
Compare the faces on the notes, in the photos and in the caricatures.
Which features are exaggerated in the caricatures? Why do you think these
features are exaggerated? Draw your own caricature of a famous person.
Coin rubbings
Beyond the classroom
Bring coins to school to make rubbings. Crayons, chalk or
charcoal could be used. Ask family and community members if you can borrow
coins that are not in current use. Banks may also have some. Families and
community members from other countries may be able to lend coins from other
countries, as a contrast. Display the coin rubbings on a wall chart in order of
increasing value.
Individuals
Create coins of your own design based on other Australian
animals. Modelling clay or plasticine could be used.
Research skills
Primary sources
Small groups
The author claims that he tried to use primary sources
where possible (see the last page of the book). Follow up some of the internet,
book or picture sources that he used to discover some of the information from
primary sources. Use the Who, What, When of History table.
Money shows our history
Small groups
The author states that, 'Our money is worth more than we
think. Our coins and banknotes tell us about our past. They show us where we've
come from – and where we might go in the future' (p 2). Research more about one
of the following from the book and other sources:
- European settlement and colonisation of Australia
- Federation
- Parliament
Share your findings as a blog. Establish a school or class
blog if there isn't one already.
(Note: A free Australian blog hosting service without advertising
is available at www.blognow.com.au.
Please also view safety considerations on www.netalert.net.au/02582-How-can-children-stay-safe-using-blogs.asp.)
Research an important Australian
Individuals
Select one of the Australians on our polymer or paper
notes to research further. Record your findings as a Fact File.
Decimal Currency
Small groups
Research how decimal currency was introduced to Australians
after reading p 4 again. Jingles were one of the ways. See if you can
find any of these. If you can't, listen to jingles on the radio or TV. Write
your own jingle about Australia's money, using information from your research
and the people on the notes. You could just write the words to a tune that
already exists.
Making connections
Banjo Patterson and Mary Gilmore
Individuals
Read about these Australian writers on pp 14–17. Find
the complete poems or songs that are quoted. Find some of their other writing
that you like. Read this (or some of it, if it is very long) to a small group. Then
select a contemporary Australian writer who you admire and read some of
their work to the class. Introduce it by explaining why you like it.
Outstanding Australians
Individuals
You have read about and viewed outstanding people in Australia's history.
Select one person on our money who you think could be
replaced by someone else. Write an explanation about why you think they could
be removed. Include an acknowledgement of their importance as well.
Class
Which people alive in Australia now do you think are
outstanding enough to be pictured on our money? Brainstorm, then select several
to mindmap using a Sunshine Wheel. Then choose a class winner.
Shrine of Remembrance
Class
Sir John Monash was responsible for the Shrine of
Remembrance, a memorial to those who fought in World War I. He also organised
the Melbourne Anzac Day march. Read more about this in Only a Donkey by
Celeste Walters and Patricia Mullins. If you are in Melbourne, your class could
go on an excursion to see the Shrine of Remembrance.
