Historical information
Most of the ephemera assembled by Francis Rigg were patriotic buttons but also included come sporting event buttons including two associated with the East Kew Citizens Sports Carnival. The subdivision of the area now known as Kew East commenced before World War 1, but it was not until the 1920s that it became fully developed. At this time, there was a strong Progress Association and this body raised funds to purchase land and build the East Kew Citizen’s Hall in Normandy Road, the first stage of which was completed in 1922. This hall was designed to be extended, although this never occurred, and the building now forms part of the facilities of the East Kew Uniting Church. The ‘East Kew Citizens Sports Carnival’ may well have been a fundraiser event for the building fund. As far as is known, the carnival was only held for a couple of years.
Significance
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.
Physical description
A circular button produced for the East Kew Citizens Sports Carnival in 1922. The button has a ground of vertical stripes in shades of blue. The name of the event is within a white circular band. A white shield in the centre that includes the words “Admit” would indicate that the badge was purchased and worn on the day of the carnival to indicate that the wearer had paid the admission fee.
Inscriptions & markings
"East Kew Citizens Sports Carnival, Admit 2nd December 1922"
