Author, historian, researcher, journalist and President of the Tasmanian Branch of the Australian National Flag Association (to name a few of his titles) Reg Watson, was kind enough to give some thought to a few questions I posed to him about our project.

What value do you place on the Tasmanian Tiger as an iconic symbol for Tasmania?

A reasonable amount of value.  I suppose in the scheme of things, it is probably the best symbol, although it is primarily the symbol which Launceston city uses. Launceston City was the first to adopt the tiger; perhaps the State should, indeed, look for an alternative.

If you had a chance to replace the current Government logo with a different symbol, what would it be?

We would need something that truly reflects Tasmania as a whole.  The State is, as you know, very regionlised, so an animal like the tiger is very apt, even though it is most probably extinct in Tasmania. If it does still exist, I believe in the Gippsland area of Victoria, where there are twice as many sightings reported than there are in Tasmania. Perhaps the Tasmanian devil should be adopted in lieu of the tiger, particularly as it is now known world-wide through overseas entertainment exposure. Flowers are a bit anaemic and any building such as the casino (although well known) makes it very regionalised and who would want to publicly endorse gambling, even though the State Government now depends upon Federal Hotels for 12 per cent of its revenue. One would not want an image of Port Arthur (over done), but something that is instantly recognisable such as the devil, unpleasant creature as it is.  At least it is purely Tasmanian.

How would you define the heart and soul of Tasmania?

I think it is being lost because of the influence of outside culture and commercialisation. The heart and soul of Tasmanian, in my opinion, is our life style; that is what attracts people here as visitors and settlers.  However, too many mainlanders come here and say, “nice place – let’s change it!” and we end up being a replica of Sydney or Melbourne.  When our life style and particularly attitude is criticised by outsiders, I retort and ask, ‘well why come and live here?’  The fact of the matter is, they come because we have a unique style of living, which is in danger of being lost. It is more than history, which we have an abundance of, but it is how we live. Perhaps we are indeed a little slower than elsewhere, but isn’t that the attraction?  Dare to be different; but, even though the marketers capitalise on our ‘difference’, they push sameness in building massive hotels, ugly housing developments such as inner town houses, and manufactured tourist attractions, which are over priced to the extent locals are barred from entry. Port Arthur is one example.  Who gave the authority for those in control to put a fence around Port Arthur then have the audacity to say, “now pay to enter your own heritage site!”  Why bring in a Sydneysider, (Barry Jones) to supervise our own heritage?  What would he know just because he is an ex quiz show contestant!

Therefore our attraction is our life style which should be guarded, protected and promoted.  The casualness, the beauty of our environment and the protection of our history which should not to be promoted as another Disney Land like Port Arthur. What was once Tasmania is rapidly going, because of greed and a quest for power.  Our State Government, (shockingly led for decades) is now just a rubber stamp for Canberra. It is an administrative centre.  We should be far more assertive as Tasmanians, demand State Rights, be more independent in our thought and vision, but with pathetic leadership the trip to be an extended part of Victoria and submissive to what Canberra says will continue. Tasmanian industries have been destroyed (like much of the western world because of globalisation) and our uniqueness is fast diminishing.  The Tasmania I grew up in, no longer exists.

Do you have other thoughts on the rebranding project?

A few years ago, the licence plates for vehicles carried the Tasmanian Lion badge which was classy and uniquely Tasmanian.  Now, we have the tiger. Perhaps we should just keep what we have, instead of changing regularly.  One gets used to something, then suddenly there’s a change and often not for the better.

Reg. A. Watson.

Tasmanian independent author and historian.

www.regwatson.com