THE FOOTBALL Hall of Fame WA has a new logo. It is made up of a black swan (the WA State bird symbol), an old football (with lacings) and a laurel wreath (to symbolise triumph, excellence, honour and peace).
The Committee of the FHoF feels the inclusion of the black swan is both a visionary step into the future of the organisation - which is in the throes of major changes - and a big leap into the past to embrace the roots of the game in Western Australia.
The logo swan is similar to the one which was first used in the official formation of football in 1896 when it was adopted as the emblem of what was then the founding association, known alternately as the Perth British Football Association or the British Football Association of Western Australia.
The black swan, which was selected for WA's first postage stamp in 1854 and also appeared in banknotes, was worn with pride when WA played its first State representative football match against an English X1 at Fremantle Oval in 1902.
It was prominent in State team jerseys for many decades (first as a large swan and later incorporated into a smaller crest) and featured prominently when WA made a historic international breakthrough when winning the Marah Halim Cup competition in Indonesia in 1975 - and again the following year when successfully defending the trophy.
The swan badge was recently resurrected by Football West and is worn on all State representative uniforms (from juniors to seniors). Football West also used the swan prominently in its pennants to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the game in 2016.
The swan has also featured in other items of historical significance, mainly the Dunkling Medal, which was the first "fairest and best" award and was presented initially in 1931.
Medals, which were donated by Perth jeweller William Dunkling, were awarded to the best player in the first division (Albert Hayter of Thistle), the second division (G Ross of Midland) and the reserve league (William Burbridge of Claremont-North Cottesloe).
The inclusion on the new logo of an old football with lacings (similar to the one used in the 1930 World Cup finals) is another nod to the past. Laced leather footballs, with an inflatable inner bladder, were used for many decades around the world. Pigs bladders were used initially until being replaced by rubber bladders in the early 1900s. It was not until the 1960s that the first totally synthetic ball was produced.
The laurel wreath is an appropriate addition to the new logo, as it represents a symbol of triumph and excellence - both of which traits are a characteristic feature of all the inductees into the Football Hall of Fame WA.
The laurel wreath traces back to Greek and Roman mythology. Apollo, the patron of sport, is represented in Greek mythology as wearing a laurel wreath on his head and they were presented at the Ancient Olympics.
The Football Hall of Fame WA has also commissioned a second new logo, which is slightly smaller than the main logo and will be used for special promotion items which have a restricted space. But it still features the black swan!
Another new look for the Football Hall of Fame WA, which is a not-for-profit body, is that the organisation has become incorporated for the first time.
Among the main Aims and Objectives of the new constitution is the pursuit of the establishment of a Football Museum in Western Australia.
The first big steps towards this achievement are underway...and already significant organisations have pledged their financial support for the venture.
"We are also setting up another entity to assist in establishing a museum for the code in this State," said Hall of Fame Committee chairman Louis Prospero.
"This new organisation will be set up to attract funding from government and private organisations."

PIC ONE: The new logo. PIC TWO: The special promotions logo. PIC THREE: The old logo. PIC FOUR: The Dunkling Medal. PIC FIVE: The new State team badge. PIC SIX: Hall of Legends member John McInroy with the distinctive swan in 1962. PIC SEVEN: WA captain Denis Barstow (sporting Swan crest) with Middlesbrough skipper Stuart Boam in 1975.