25 May 2011

Gang Gang logo under threat. It's not like they have competition.

| creative_canberran
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Jeremy Lasek from CM&C wants Canberrrans to explain why the somewhat iconic Gang Gang logo of ACT Parks, Conservation & Lands, should not be discarded.

Apparently there may not be space for it in the government’s new unified branding.

Now heritage value aside, there’s an economic argument for retaining a recognisable brand that exists on a large body of infrastructure and signage.

An argument NSW realised given they had no trouble keeping the NSW P&WS logo prominent beside the new “Warratah” branding.

And honestly, is corporate branding for government even needed when as the government, they have a monopoly?

[ED – And since when did we have to explain ourselves to Jeremy Lasek?]

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creative_canberran11:18 pm 01 Jun 11

averagejoeaussie said :

Here we go again – some idiot trying to justify their job by making changes in our never-wanted ACT Governemnt (remember, two seperate referendums and we got lumbered with it anyway? Who could forget the ever serious Sun-Ripened Tomato Party and the Part-Party-Party Party?) Leave the bloody logo as it is. It will cost the taxpayers untold thousands to change all the letterheads and business cards. Do you see Coke, Ford, KFC, MacDonalds, Virgin or any other world wide successful business changing their logo? No, because they realise the benefit of brand awareness, not like bumbling little local councils trying to prove their worth and existance……….

Coke is a good example of messing with a proven brand: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Coke

averagejoeaussie10:19 pm 01 Jun 11

Here we go again – some idiot trying to justify their job by making changes in our never-wanted ACT Governemnt (remember, two seperate referendums and we got lumbered with it anyway? Who could forget the ever serious Sun-Ripened Tomato Party and the Part-Party-Party Party?) Leave the bloody logo as it is. It will cost the taxpayers untold thousands to change all the letterheads and business cards. Do you see Coke, Ford, KFC, MacDonalds, Virgin or any other world wide successful business changing their logo? No, because they realise the benefit of brand awareness, not like bumbling little local councils trying to prove their worth and existance……….

There used to be a pair of Gang-Gangs that nested in a whopping great eucalypt in the capark of Macarthur House. They provided weeks of entertainment for staff on the 3rd and 4th levels. One year the Gang Gangs did not return to nest in the tree. A few short years later the eucalypt was removed.

creative_canberran10:25 pm 25 May 11

dungfungus said :

A sighting of a Gang Gang in Tuggeranong is about as rare as sighting and ACT Parks and Garden ranger on the ground doing something useful. They are out and about in their flash $40K dual cabs but they are never actually seen doing anything on the ground and getting their hands dirty. Wish I had a job like that.

They nest in the trees behind Old Parliament House, often in very obvious view too. Wonderful creatures and it’s wonderful to see them near the old style architecture. Quintessential Canberra.

As for the rangers not doing anything, again, you have to get out and about to see what they actually do. Story a few months back went through the day of a ranger on Stateline/7:30 ACT.

fiddlesticks9:54 pm 25 May 11

Maybe you dont see them at the Hyperdome dungfungus, but if you get out for a walk in any of the Nature Parks you might see them.

dungfungus said :

A sighting of a Gang Gang in Tuggeranong is about as rare as sighting and ACT Parks and Garden ranger on the ground doing something useful. They are out and about in their flash $40K dual cabs but they are never actually seen doing anything on the ground and getting their hands dirty. Wish I had a job like that.

A sighting of a Gang Gang in Tuggeranong is about as rare as sighting and ACT Parks and Garden ranger on the ground doing something useful. They are out and about in their flash $40K dual cabs but they are never actually seen doing anything on the ground and getting their hands dirty. Wish I had a job like that.

creative_canberran5:35 pm 25 May 11

JerraGirl32 said :

Wow creative canberran – is that seriously the best come back you could come up with?

In fact, my tax dollars will go towards this and I am happy to support the rebranding – not that it is any of your business. Stick to the issue.

From what I understand, the old logos will be phased out gradually, which I think is sensible.

If you live in the ACT (“Jerragirl” as a user name doesn’t make that obvious”… you’re fine with your tax dollars been spent on replacing a logo?

Either way describing this change as “sensible” is highly illogical.
Perhaps consider these definitions of the word:
1) Practical and functional rather than decorative
2) Reasonable, judicious
3) having or showing wisdom or common sense

Source: Oxford English Dictionary

JerraGirl32 said :

Personally, I think the idea of having one ACT Government brand is great. As someone who moved to Canberra a few years ago, I have found the mess of government logos utterly confusing.

True. I too find it difficult to process more than 1 logo a day.

Wow creative canberran – is that seriously the best come back you could come up with?

In fact, my tax dollars will go towards this and I am happy to support the rebranding – not that it is any of your business. Stick to the issue.

From what I understand, the old logos will be phased out gradually, which I think is sensible.

Who cares how the ACT government brands itself – apart from the obvious waste involved in the change. They’re the government, we know who they are, and it’s what they do that’s important not how they brand themselves.

creative_canberran3:53 pm 25 May 11

JerraGirl32 said :

Seriously, don’t these people have better and more important things to do than worry about losing a logo? From some of the comments here, you would think that the ACT Government is planning to get rid of the actual bird and not just an image of it!

Personally, I think the idea of having one ACT Government brand is great. As someone who moved to Canberra a few years ago, I have found the mess of government logos utterly confusing. Having one main brand is sensible, and why clutter everything with co-branding? It’s just not neccessary.

I don’t think this issue is even worthy of a media story! Just get rid of the logo!

Well being from struggle town, it’s not your tax dollars that will be spent painting over the existing logo everywhere with a new one, is it now?

Seriously, don’t these people have better and more important things to do than worry about losing a logo? From some of the comments here, you would think that the ACT Government is planning to get rid of the actual bird and not just an image of it!

Personally, I think the idea of having one ACT Government brand is great. As someone who moved to Canberra a few years ago, I have found the mess of government logos utterly confusing. Having one main brand is sensible, and why clutter everything with co-branding? It’s just not neccessary.

I don’t think this issue is even worthy of a media story! Just get rid of the logo!

creative_canberran12:32 pm 25 May 11

ACTPS_Comms said :

Just to clarify – CM&C doesn’t want Canberrans to explain why the Gang Gang should be retained this is the responsibility of the relevent area within one the the new ACT Government directorates.

ABC has been contacted to clarify the story.

lol, clarification? Sounds more like back track and pass the buck to me.

The direct quotes from Jeremy in the story:

“I guess in a way we’re playing catch-up. For the lovers of the Gang-gang, this is their big chance to state their case.”
“There would be space [for the Gang-gang logo] if there was a decision taken based on the case put … where for whatever reasons it is seen as important to retain its identity.”

Are the quotes incorrect? I think the reasonable and intelligent people of Canberra (well, the RiotAct at least) are smart enough to know what he was obviously saying.

They’re shy, like Canberrans

Antagonist said :

*Delete rant*

Nothing wrong with the rant. It was a rant, so it’s OK.

I like the gang-gang logo, although it’s puzzling that despite being born in Canberra, I’ve only ever seen Gang-Gangs once, and didn’t know what they were (other than they were parroty-things).

From memory, the whole-of-government branding was introduced in WA many years ago in response to the exorbitant sums being spent by many departments on “rebranding” themselves every time a new DG/CEO came into the job. We don’t really have that problem here that I’ve noticed, but I suppose I don’t see a lot of ACT government stationery. On the whole I think the single logo is a pretty good idea, but there’s probably some justification for the departments which have a lot interaction with the general public to retain their individual logos.

Pommy bastard11:03 am 25 May 11

Antagonist said :

Note to self: No posting in the mornings until after consuming minimum three coffee’s.

So that you will not fall prey to the dreaded “grocer’s apostrophe”?

*Delete rant*

*Delete rant!*

*DELETE DAMMIT!*

*sigh*

Note to self: No posting in the mornings until after consuming minimum three coffee’s.

Seems like a pretty simple situation where co-branding is an obvious option. They can adapt the new branding for everything except the patches on the shoulders of their shirts. Has the benefit of the change over period being less messy.

Just to clarify – CM&C doesn’t want Canberrans to explain why the Gang Gang should be retained this is the responsibility of the relevent area within one the the new ACT Government directorates.

Under the one government model recently announced out of the Hawke Review into the ACT Public Service a single, unified logo would be adopted. Areas of the ACT Government will be given the opportunity to state a case, addressing criteria, to retain their logo for co-branding, or in some cases exemption.

ABC has been contacted to clarify the story.

Ummm … because the Gang-Gang Cockatoo is the ACT faunal emblem, moron! Not to mention the logo already being established and recognised throughout the ACT community as belonging to PCL. There is also the educational aspect for children and the general public – a good thing given the Gang-Gang’s conservation status.

Jeremy, keep the logo. We like it. We know it. We do not need to change it. It is as much a part of the ACT community as the Belconnen Penis Owl. Who gives a flying F%$# what they are doing in other states with their branding? Grow a set of balls and tell Hawke to shove off with his recommendation.

*End Rant*

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