There were numerous events in Kew, held during World War I, to support the War Effort. The 'Our Heroes' Carnival was held in the Kew Recreation Hall [dem. 1960], Wellington Street on the weekend of 9 and 10 August 1918. The event was held to gain financial support for the Lady Mayoresses' Patriotic League. Three press reports [see references] describe or illustrate the event. Organisation of the event was led by the Mayoress, Mrs Wynne, with the assistance of Mrs. H. Dodd and Mr. Hamilton Wilson. Stalls were operated by women selling items donated or created by individuals, organisations or institutions. While the badge is not mentioned in the references, it was clearly able to be purchased as a symbol of support for the event and for the cause for which it raised funds.The badge appropriates cultural symbols for political purposes. It is a rare example of a three-dimensional badge created to support Australian soldiers abroad during WW1. It is unusual in that the inscription is localised to the municipality rather than using a generic label. Badge - Small silvered metal kookaburra standing on a boomerang inscribed in capital letters with the words "Our Heroes Carnival, Kew". The badge has a pin on the reverse."Our Heroes Carnival, Kew"patriotic badges, world war 1, national symbols, cultural appropriation, badges, first world war -- fundraising, kew recreation hall

A critique of the adaption of American culture in Australian popular culture, where only the worst or silliest things from the US are adopted. Boyd suggests the colonial, unambitious and rigid brand of masculinity that characterises the "Aussie myth" hinders the development of an imaginative and creative social climate that manifests in a superficial appropriation of American culture. Boyd is not critical of US culture itself, in fact he has a great appreciation of US culture. He suggests that the Australian brand of Americanisation is only a superficial commercial exploitation of the American dream. It concludes with Boyd rallying for the development of a unique Australian originality with increasing connections to Asia.Typewritten, pencil edits (pages 22a and 22b added after page 22), quarto, 24 pagesamericanisation, american culture, australian culture, masculinity, cultural myths, australian values, social attitudes, ussr, asia, california, sidney nolan, alan moorehead, patrick white, donald horne, john anderson, robin boyd, manuscript