MONASH UNIVERSITY COAT OF ARMS
In the patent issued by the College of Arms on 20 November 1963, the coat of arms of the University is described as follows:
Azure a Chevron Argent between in chief an open book proper bound clasped and edged Or and a sword environed by a Laurel Wreath Gold and in base a representation of the Southern Cross also Argent.
[ That is: A blue shield bears a silver chevron. Above the chevron is an open book with pages lined to represent lettering, with a binding and clasps of gold sword encircled with a gold laurel wreath, and below the chevron are the silver stars of the Southern Cross.]
The devices on the shield arise as follows: the open book is commonly found in the coats of arms of universities and learned societies, and symbolises the pursuit of knowledge; the sword and the wreath are quotations from the coat of arms granted to Sir John Monash: the stars of the Southern Cross represents our geographical position of our founding campus.
THE MACE
For thousands of years a mace has been employed as a symbol of government. The mace of the University represents the authority of the Council of the University.
The mace was presented to the University in 1966 by Sir Archie Michaelis( 1889-1975), Member of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria for St Kilda for 20 years, and Speaker of the Assembly from 1950 to 1952.
Designed and made by the late sculptor, jeweller and silversmith, Matcham Skipper of Montsalvat, in Eltham, Victoria, the mace was commissioned in 1965. It has a shaft of polished Australian black bean, and a head and foot of cast and beaten silver. The orb at the head carries the University coat of arms, and is supported by flames symbolizing the light given to the world by increasing knowledge. At the foot are four oval panels each engraved with a device suggested by the donor as identifying General Sir John Monash: the Star of David; a thunderbolt, in reference to the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, of which he was the first Chairman, from 1921; the General Service Badge of the Australian Imperial Force; and the coat of arms of the University of Melbourne, of which he was Vice-Chancellor.
08 G R A D U A T I O N CEREMONY