TitleBarney Banana Lapel PinDate1990s - 2000sDimensionsH.55mm x W.13mm x D.5mm (Lapel pin)
H.70mm x W.60mm (Plastic bag)Accession NumberM2024.59.4
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Description
Silver metal lapel pin with an enamel badge depicting a white shield being held by Barney Banana, still in its original (unopened) plastic bag. On the shield is printed "Proudly Coffs Harbour". This lapel pin was given to corporate guests of the Coffs Harbour City Council.
Barney Banana, was a tourism mascot and environmental ambassador, for the Coffs Harbour City Council from the early 1990s to 2010.
In the early 1990’s, Coffs Harbour City Council had a banana costume that was worn primarily at conferences and other Council events.
During 1991, in Issue 32 of Rave Magazine (pp10-11), Barney Banana was presented as an environmental ambassador for children.
In 1995, the tourism department, specifically Marketing Manager at the time Wendy Hall, commissioned the creation of the Barney Banana mascot. On February 15, 1995 an order was placed with Animals and Odd-Bod Creations in Melbourne to create Barney Banana.
Found again in 2022 in a council office, these banana costumes were previously worn by Council staff members at events from the 1990’s to 2000’s. Last known public photo of Barney Banana was at the National Youth Week event in 2010.
Betty Banana was made later to accompany Barney. It is not known who made her or when, but Betty is suspected to be homemade due to the quality compared to Barney. It is reported that Betty and Barney would attend events together and that Betty was as popular as Barney with children and adults. No public photos of Betty have been found.