Frances Rigg was a local business identity in Kew, at one stage managing the local branch of the English, Scottish and Australian (ES&A) Bank at 175 High Street from c. 1920 until the 1940s. After Francis Rigg’s death, the collection of buttons and medallions was inherited by his son, Ken Rigg (1922-2014). The collection was subsequently donated to the Kew Historical Society in 2015 by Francis' grandson, Adrian Rigg, at the time of the Gallipoli & Beyond Commemoration in 2015. The collection covers a period of almost 40 years. The majority of the buttons are patriotic buttons, issued and sold during and immediately after the First World World War (1914-1918) to raise funds for national and overseas causes. The collection also includes a number of locally significant sporting event buttons and sporting club medallions, issued in the 1920s and 1930s.Patriotic and other pressed tin buttons and badges were produced in large numbers in the first decades of the twentieth century. By nature, insubstantial and ephemeral, they have not always survived. The collections of badges, buttons and medallions in the Kew Historical Society collection is homogenous and yet diverse, ranging from buttons sold to raise funds for the war efforts in 1914-18 and 1939-45, to those used at festivals and sporting events. Because of the manufacturing process, many surviving buttons and badges have been affected by inadequate storage, suffering from oxidisation and physical damage. These survivors are now historically and socially significant artefacts, revealing much about the attitudes and values of the period in which they were produced. Their widespread distribution means that they are frequently significant at a local, state, national and international level.A ‘Wattle Day’ badge featuring the head of a young girl surrounded by sprays of wattle. In the design for this fundraising button the purpose of the fundraising – ‘for Children’s Charities’ is emphasised."Wattle Day: For Children’s Charities"wattle day, patriotic buttons, first world war (1914-18), badges

A circular celluloid and tin button badge with stick pin at back. The badge features black text 'RED TRIANGLE DAY 1 JUNE 1917' printed in a gold border around the outer edge and white text 'GOD/​ KING/​ COUNTRY' in a red triangle in the centre. The centre background is white. During World War I, a large number of benevolent and patriotic organisations and charities were formed to raise money from the public for Australia’s war effort and soldiers, whilst other established organisations held specific patriotic fund raising days. Red Triangle Day was an initiative of the Young Men's Christian Association, commonly known as the YMCA and this badge incorporates the red triangle used as the everyday logo of the YMCA from 1897 to 1967. In 1917 Red Triangle Day raised £159,037 28 towards the war work of the YMCA.A circular celluloid and tin button badge with stick pin at back. The badge features black text 'RED TRIANGLE DAY 1 JUNE 1917' printed in a gold border around the outer edge and white text 'GOD/​ KING/​ COUNTRY' in a red triangle in the centre. The centre background is white. During World War I, a large number of benevolent and patriotic organisations and charities were formed to raise money from the public for Australia’s war effort and soldiers, whilst other established organisations held specific patriotic fund raising days. Red Triangle Day was an initiative of the Young Men's Christian Association, commonly known as the YMCA and this badge incorporates the red triangle used as the everyday logo of the YMCA from 1897 to 1967. In 1917 Red Triangle Day raised £159,037 28 towards the war work of the YMCA.Red Triangle Day God King Country

A gold coloured metal Junior Legacy Club badge patch that was given to Junior Legatees. Date is unknown but probably from the 1950s or 1960s. This badge was donated to Legacy after it was found in an charity shop. It was photographed and sent to a former Junior Legatee as a replacement for their badge that had broken. No longer have an example in the archive.A record of the membership badge given to Junior Legatees when they joined Legacy.Gold Junior Legacy Club badge on a bar with safety pin and chain.Imprinted on back "Stokes".junior legatee, jlc, badges

The Hamilton-Smith collection was donated by the children of Grace Mary Hamilton-Smith nee Ellwood (1911-2004) and John Hamilton-Smith (1909-1984) who settled in Wodonga in the 1940s. The Ellwood family had lived in north-east Victoria since the late 1800s. Grace’s mother, Rosina Ellwood nee Smale, was the first teacher at Baranduda in 1888, and a foundation member of the C.W.A. Rosina and her husband Mark retired to Wodonga in 1934. Grace and John married at St. David’s Church, Albury in 1941. John was a grazier, and actively involved in Agricultural Societies. The collection contains significant items which reflect the local history of Wodonga, including handmade needlework, books, photographs, a wedding dress, maps, and material relating to the world wars. This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history. Two small round badges. The NSW CWA badge has a light and dark blue design with orange. The Victorian badge has a yellow, green and gold design.On Victorian badge: "VICTORIA/CWA". On NSW Badge: "COUNTRY WOMENS ASSOCIATION N.S.W./CWA".hamilton-smith collection, hamilton-smith, ellwood, charity, volunteer, voluntering, cwa, country women's association, rural, women, women's history, domestic, cooking, food, community

The Hamilton-Smith collection was donated by the children of Grace Mary Hamilton-Smith nee Ellwood (1911-2004) and John Hamilton-Smith (1909-1984) who settled in Wodonga in the 1940s. The Ellwood family had lived in north-east Victoria since the late 1800s. Grace’s mother, Rosina Ellwood nee Smale, was the first teacher at Baranduda in 1888, and a foundation member of the C.W.A. Rosina and her husband Mark retired to Wodonga in 1934. Grace and John married at St. David’s Church, Albury in 1941. John was a grazier, and actively involved in Agricultural Societies. The collection contains significant items which reflect the local history of Wodonga, including handmade needlework, books, photographs, a wedding dress, maps, and material relating to the world wars. This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history. A gold toned metal lapel badge on a red ribbonOn face of badge: "AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY/LONG SERVICE".hamilton-smith collection, ellwood, hamilton-smith, red cross, medal, award, charity, community

Pressed tin buttons were produced in large numbers between 1900 and the Second World War and being ephemeral have rarely survived. This button was produced for fundraising for local charities at Ballarat on Button Day in October 1925.Historically and socially significant artefact, revealing much about the attitudes and values of the period in which they were produced. Button days were a popular way of fundraising and commemoration that developed through Wattle Days and the First World War retaining their popularity into the early 1950s. Small tin badge with stylised rising sun motif in red with forget-me-nots in blue beneath a banner and on beneath the nosegay the words forget not. in blue. ballarat, charities, fund raising, button day, 1925, badges