The Melbourne Olympic games were mainly conducted at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and were one of the most successful in terms of medals for Australia. Among the medal winners were Shirley Strickland, Betty Cuthbert in Athletics and Dawn Fraser and Murray rose in swimming. The games commenced in November 1956. The games were noted for the 19 Hungarian athletes who applied for asylum with their home country undergoing upheaval at the time. The Melbourne games also enjoyed the advent of television with the technology having recently been introduced to the country. These badges note ten of the many athletes who competed for Australia in 1956. These items are of social significance and interest. Among the names listed, Dawn Fraser and Shirley Strickland were two of Australia’s best known athletes.001042.1 Dawn Fraser Swimming 001042.2 Dawn Fraser Swimming 001042.3Gary Chapman Swimming 001042.4Gary Chapman Swimming 001042.5Gary Chapman Swimming 001042.6Jim Bailey Athletics 001042.7 Winsome Cripps Athletics 001042.8 Lionel Cox cycling 001042.9 Hector Hogan Athletics 001042.10 Kevin O’Halloran Swimming 001042.11 Shirley Strickland Athletics 001042.12 Merv Wood Sculling 001042.13 Jon Henricks Swimming Items 001042.1-001042.13 are white background with green wreath , black text on yellow background and have B & W photo of Olympian in centre. 001042.14 Melbourne Olympics Souvenir dark blue text, pale green with wattle 001042.15 Melbourne Olympic Games 1956 with red text Straight pin at the back. Patrick Pty Ltd on edge.1956 olympics, melbourne olympics, souvenir badges, dawn fraser, gary chapman, jim bailey, winsome cripps, lionel cox, kevin o'halloran, hector hogan, shirley strickland, jon hendricks, merv woods, melbourne olympic games