Bob,
Have to agree with Richard and Dianna on this one, Bob. It's like no Platypus I've ever seen. But just as a test, I showed the image to my wildlife-artist wife, and asked 'what Australian animal do you think that might be?' and her immediate reaction was 'Bilby: only long-eared, long tailed Aussie animal it could be'.
As for the 'bolt', well, the trailer belonged to the Q-Troop (supply troop) of 16 Air Defence Regiment, who exercised regularly at Woomera and Cultana, so an RBS70 missile pod slung over the shoulder of whatever animal it is is appropriate, and the Bilby idea fits with their likely encounters with Bilby's in their training areas.
'Each State had their own animal and Bilbys did not feature'? I agree that the Bilby did not feature, but can't agree that the official Divisional Formation signs from WW2 bear any relationship to 'states' or are 'state based'.
Besides, as Dianna said, this is post war. We see a plethora of different emblems adopted by units: the pig for 5RAR, the Black Leopard for 1st Armd Regt (now a lion), the eagle by 2Cav, Scorpion by 3Cav (carried through to 3/4Cav) and the strutting rooster for 21 Construction Sqn, to name just a few (others).
Mike C
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