 
In August 1962, enquiries were made on the acquisition of a Coat of Arms for the College. Dr Crick had recently visited England
and called on the Portcullis Pursuivant of Arms, concerning this matter. He was advised that it was usual for the College of Arms
to design these on receiving full particulars of the history, constitution and present management and maintenance of the College
and the precise date and title of the act or ordinance incorporating the College.
The matter was referred to Council and in December 1962, it was decided to defer the matter of the Coat of Arms for the College
until a later date. In April 1963, it was decided to proceed with this matter. In July 1963, the number of Fellows, Members,
Associates and Life Members of the College, with other Memoranda and Articles were supplied to the College of Arms. In September
1963, the memorial, duly signed by the President of the College was returned to the College of Arms together with the required fee
- £365. This was financed by the College funds and a levy of £1 per Member was made with the annual subscription.
A suggested design was forwarded from the College of Arms to the College on 29 October 1963. This was forwarded to all Branches
for opinion, and all Members were requested to suggest a Motto. This was finally selected to be “Lumen Afferimus Morbis” – We Cast
Light on Disease, by Dr Colin Macdonald from Melbourne. Dr Charles de Monchaux, radiotherapist and linguist, protested at the
Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 5 October 1964 that these words were "dog Latin" and represented poor and inaccurate expression.
He proposed that the motto be changed to “Lumen Ferimus Lumine”. After discussion, Dr Friend proposed that the matter of the motto
be left to the Executive to decide.
At a meeting of the Executive on 27 October 1964, it was decided that the Honorary Secretary write to the Portcullis pointing out
that a question had been raised as to the correctness of the Latin in the motto, asking whether the Portcullis and The College of
Arms considered the Latin sufficiently correct for the purpose of a motto. (It was explained that a Member had questioned the use
of Ad without the Dative and the use of Afferimus rather than Ferimus.)
A letter from the College of Arms was read at the Executive meeting of 24 November 1964, stating that the Armorial Bearings and
Supporters for the College had been formally approved and that the authority of the College of Arms considered the motto “Lumen
Afferimus Morbis” to be perfectly in order and suitable. Letters were to be written to Dr de Monchaux and Dr Macdonald quoting
extracts of the letter from the College of Arms and another letter from Prof AJ Dunston, Professor of Latin at the University of
Sydney, approving the original motto for their information.
The Coat of Arms of the College was granted by the Queen on 2 September 1964.
To view the transcript of the Armorial Bearings, click here.
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