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A Sunburnt Country

Australian Coat of Arms. The kangaroo and emu are fleeing from a wild fire engulfing the left side of the Coat of the Arms.

The emu and the kangaroo were chosen for the Commonwealth Coat of Arms to symbolise ‘a nation moving forward’ as neither animal can move backwards with ease. Smith depicts both creatures fleeing a raging fire — underscoring the concerns voiced during the unprecedented bushfires about the runaway impact of climate change on our environment and society.