Historical information

This pennant was donated to the Mission by June Muirhead (nee Richardson) who visited the Mission on two occasions: on the 13 November 2014 and then in 2016.

She lived from age 3 to 8, with her parents, Cuthbert (Bert) Richardson and Jane (Jenny) Richardson, and her sister, Edna, in the Cottage at 717 Flinders Street. Her father, was the caretaker of the Flinders Street building between 1943-1949. .
In 1943 her father was hired to work at the Mission as a caretaker. The family moved from Wonthaggi.
When she lived in the Mission, she would sometimes sneak into the club to look at books and pictures. Some seafarers would give her badges, tokens. One of them gave her this felt pennant.
In 1949, the family moved back to Wonthaggi and June started year 5 over there.

Significance

A number of souvenir gifts and small boxes were apparently available through the Mission To Seamen in the 1940s. This acquisition adds to the small collection of items from the period which could be used to form the core of an informative exhibition.

Similar flags were made in other countries depicting an animal (kiwi bird in New Zealand, springbox in South Africa) and other Australian towns.

Physical description

A triangular felted, dark blue pennant with printed cursive inscription and motifs including: the Mission to Seamen Flying Angel flag, an outline of Australia; a Koala wearing a captain's hat; an insignia emblem for the Merchant Navy. A looped cotton binding along left edge of the triangle to thread the flag on a stick or cord support.

Inscriptions & markings

The printed inscription reads: Greetings from Australia.