{"id":183549,"date":"2026-03-27T04:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T17:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/?p=183549"},"modified":"2026-03-26T10:11:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T23:11:25","slug":"committee-for-lorne-echidna-as-the-emblem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/committee-for-lorne-echidna-as-the-emblem\/","title":{"rendered":"Committee for Lorne: Echidna as the Emblem"},"content":{"rendered":"

A photo recently appeared on Facebook, I think taken by Linton Ferguson from the Historical Society, showing an echidna pottering about and minding its own business beneath the Stribling Reserve sign.\u00a0 What a shot, Linton … what a shot!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Stribling Reserve on the Surf Coast. Photo: SUPPLIED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Google offers the following as a definition:<\/p>\n

\u201c… t<\/em>o ‘potter around’ (or ‘potter about’) is an English expression meaning\u00a0to spend time in a relaxed, pleasant way doing small, unimportant tasks or moving aimlessly, often in the house or garden<\/em>. \u00a0It involves being gently active without hurrying or having a specific, urgent purpose.\u00a0 The word likely derives <\/em>from the Middle English\u00a0<\/em>\u201cpote\u201d<\/em>, which meant “to poke or push”, and is likely related to the Dutch<\/em> \u201cpoteren\u201d<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0\u201cpeuteren\u201d<\/em>, meaning “to poke, pry, or search\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

Indeed, \u2018pottering\u2019 seems a perfect word to describe an echidna, as it is exactly what this charming little creature does! \u00a0Echidnas amble, waddle, and meander, but above all, they potter.<\/p>\n

Seeing this serendipitous photo made me wonder whether the echidna might be a perfect choice for a Lorne emblem\u2014an insignia, maybe even a logo, to showcase our exceptional range of native wildlife.\u00a0 Indeed, outside the bustling summer months and the scattered long weekends that punctuate the year, Lorne and its residents enjoy a fair bit of relaxed \u2018pottering about\u2019 during the calmer, quieter mid-year months.<\/p>\n

If the idea gains traction, a school competition might be held to come up with a name … to kickstart the creative juices, perhaps \u201cEddie\u201d the Echidna [for Ed Babington, one of our most knowledgeable local bushmen], \u201cErskine\u201d the Echidna [for our iconic Otway stream], or possibly \u201cDean\u201d [in recognition of Dean Bowen, a well-loved Melbourne sculptor with a flair for creating the numerous evocative echidna bronzes that appear at Qdos or at the Sculpture Biennale … there is even one in the garden next door to mine].<\/p>\n

\"\"
One example of Dean Bowen\u2019s beautiful echidnas. Photo: SUPPLIED.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Indeed, it was a Lorne school competition in the early 70s that gave our local football, netball, and cricket clubs their names and logos. \u00a0Sandra Love won a classy netball for nominating \u2018The Dolphins\u2019 as the name for the Lorne Football and Netball Club [information courtesy Murray Walding].<\/p>\n

Several towns and cities across Australia have adopted a native animal\u2014usually one that is endemic to their region or uniquely represents their community\u2014as their symbol or emblem.\u00a0 This is often done to boost local tourism or to promote conservation efforts.<\/p>\n

Some examples include:<\/p>\n